THE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY

Ben Stiller, Kristen Wiig,

Sean Penn, Adam Scott

"Stop Dreaming. Start Living."

Based on the classic story by James Thurber, Ben Stiller directs and casts himself in the lead role as Walter Mitty.  An introverted man who works in the photography department of LIFE Magazine. He is stuck in a monotonous job so he escapes by zoning out and daydreams about a much more vicarious life.

But his life is about to drastically change as he discovers that the negative of the photo for the magazine's final cover (it is ceasing publication and venturing into the online format) is missing. Walter, with the encouraging help of a co-worker/love interest Cheryl (Kristen Wiig), springs into action on a quest to solve the case of the missing negative from its source.

Sean O'Connell (Sean Penn) is the famed yet reclusive veteran photographer who captured the missing shot, now known as negative no. 25.  This journey to hunt down O'Connell leads Walter through Greenland, Iceland, Afghanistan and the Himalayas. Along the way, he reignites former passions, like skateboarding and hiking, and his daydreams become more and more unnecessary.

Whimsical is the word that comes to mind when I think about this movie. Ben Stiller does an excellent job in presenting and acting out this unique character.  His able direction, buoyed by a vivid cinematography and a good soundtrack of suitable songs is well paced. The story has all the right mixture of comedy, action and drama.

This movie kicks quite a punch with its apparently obvious message. Many of our (day) dreams are just a few steps away from being realities. All it takes is self determination and a strong belief that it is all within our reach.  So stop whining and complaining and go out there and grasp the opportunity to turn the ordinary into extraordinary adventures!

THE WOLF OF WALL STREET

Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill,

Margot Robbie, Jean Dujardin,

Kyle Chandler, Rob Reiner

Leonardo DiCaprio in no way resembles the real Jordan Belfort. He is way too 'pretty' compared to the craggy faced Belfort. So to see him jump into Belfort's persona might need a little adjustment given that the role does demand a lot from DiCaprio. But surprisingly he does a wonderful job as the crass, smooth talking, in.your.face stockbroker who made millions by conning the rich to invest in stocks of dubious companies.

The real Belfort in his interview with Piers Morgan remain steadfast in his belief that he only 'robbed' from the very rich and no one really lost all their life savings. After his incarceration he has somehow 'reformed' and now 'robs' common people by giving motivational talks about the art of selling.   Although he admits that most of his current earnings go towards paying the huge amount he still owes the investors of his now defunct company, the Stratton Oakmont.

But I'm getting way ahead, the film explores the rise of Belfort from a young idealistic stockbroker to a greedy, conniving, immoral, drugs and sex addicted capitalist.  The dialogue is sharp, witty and mostly peppered with the *F* word which I doubt was even used as rampantly as it is depicted in the early 1990s.  Raunchy scenes of the debauchery that went on in and out of their office are thrown at the audience in every other frame.

The film is also quite funny with Jonah Hill, the comedian bringing in most of the laughs. I like the repartee between him and DiCaprio, their scenes together were always spot on.  The sequence showing the 'cerebral palsy' stage of the drugs kicking in, had me laughing out so much I almost peed in my pants.

Running at almost 3 hours long, there were a few scenes which could have been edited out. But the pacing was quite fast with so much going on at the same time, it felt like you were as high as most of the characters on screen.
 

Labeled as a "satire", it was aimed to expose the over the top, excesses of the capitalist world in the early 1990s.  Yet as the film progressed, it seemed to me it glamorized this sort of behavior.  That it was alright to manipulate and con people, because after all, who doesn't want to be filthy rich, right? When you're laughing at the destruction Belfort causes to not only himself, but also those around him, you realize the movie has failed to set a justifiable tone.

Having said that, I believe "The Wolf of Wolf Street" is a well crafted movie. Martin Scorsese never disappoints and by delivering such an outlandish over the top film, he proves he is one of the best directors in the industry who dares to take risks and is fearless in his approach.

BLUE JASMINE

Cate Blanchett, Sally Hawkins,

Alec Baldwin, Bobby Cannavale,

Louis C.K, Andrew Dice Clay

The very few readers of this blog surely know by now that I am an avid fan of Woody Allen's huge repertoire of films. I like how he explores and handles a wide range of complex characters. Each of them born from the vivid figment of his very creative imagination.  Despite having a very murky and turbulent personal life, he has always championed feminism as most of his leading characters are strong willed yet deeply flawed and vulnerable women.

In "Blue Jasmine", she is personified through Jasmine French (Cate Blanchett) a socialite who has fallen from grace and must swallow her pride and her humiliation by moving in with her sister, Ginger (Sally Hawkins) who lives in San Francisco. Ginger is the complete opposite of Jasmine.  A divorced single mother of two rambunctious boys, she makes ends meet by working at a grocery store.  Unrefined, blue collar working class type.

The story moves back and forth. We see Jasmine's pampered life with her businessman husband Hal (Alec Baldwin) who turns out to be this Bernie Madoff type of person. While in San Fo, she is forced to work at a dental clinic while taking up computer lessons so she can eventually take an online course to be an interior designer.

Cate Blanchett as the neurotic, insecure, erratic and self obsessed Jasmine French plays the role with such brilliance. She can easily shift between the prissy socialite to the woman on the edge of a nervous breakdown attempting to rebuild her already tattered life. Although we know from the glimpses of her affluent lifestyle that she more or less knew about the dubious deals of her husband, you can't help but feel a certain amount of sympathy for Jasmine as she struggles to cope with a completely different life on the far end of the spectrum.  Quite a tragic figure, even more so towards the end when the already quite fragile and vulnerable Jasmine is handed another blow.

Although there are certain loopholes in the plot (how can Jasmine not know how to use a computer in this day and age?), the movie fits right alongside Allen's recent European adventures in terms of quality. The cast is less star-studded yet no less talented. Special mention goes to Sally Hawkins for her seamless portrayal of the beleaguered Ginger.

But truly, this riches to rags tragic story is a must watch and deserves to be seen for Cate Blanchett’s excellent performance alone.

SPRING FILM FESTIVAL 2014

Now on its eighth year, the Spring Film Festival features Chinese films in different genres.  It will be held from January 24 to February 2, 2014.  Organized by the Ateneo de Manila University Ricardo Leong Center for Chinese Studies together with the Confucius Institute and Credit Suisse.

Aside from the free film screenings, the 2014 Spring Film Festival will also feature an exhibit of paintings by the artists from the International Studies for Chinese Arts and the students of Ateneo’s Confucius Institute. The exhibit will be held at Shangri-La Plaza’s East Atrium from January 24 to February 6. On February 1, a workshop on Chinese painting and crafts will be held from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

The following films with their synopsis will be featured:

Aftershock

Running time: 135 minutes
Director: Feng Xiaogang
Lead stars: Zhang Jingchu, Chen Daoming, Lu Yi, Xu Fan, Zhang Guoqiang, Li Chen
Synopsis: Two seven-year-old twins are buried under the rubble of the devastating earthquake. The rescue team explains to their mother, Li Yuanni, that freeing either child will almost certainly result in the death of the other. She is forced to make the most difficult decision of her life and must choose between her children.

1911 Revolution

Running time: 125 minutes
Director: Zhang Li, Jackie Chan
Lead stars: Jackie Chan, Winston Chao, Li Bingbing
Synopsis: As the country enters the new century, China is facing a crisis. Two warring factions have emerged, starvation among the citizens is rampant and political reforms have made matters worse. The seven-year-old Emperor and his mother, Empress Dowager Longyu (Joan Chen), are out of sync with the people’s needs after 250 years of total power. As Huang Xing (Jackie Chan) arrives from his studies on modern warfare in Japan, he finds himself picking up his sword to lead a rebellion against the powerful Qing Dynasty and the New Army.

Snowfall in Taipei

Running time: 90 minutes
Director: Huo Jianqi
Lead stars: Chen Bailin, Tong Yao
Synopsis: May, a woman singer from mainland China, suddenly loses her voice and has conflicts with Ah Lei, her producer and secret lover. Out of anger, she goes to the old town of Jingtong where she meets Xiao Mo, a warm-hearted man. Xiao Mo finds May a dwelling place and helps her get a job at a local restaurant. May finds happiness and consolation from the old streets of the small town and her voice is getting better and better, but her heart is still in another place.

Let’s Fall in Love

Running time: 90 minutes
Director: Pu Sheng
Lead Stars: Wang Quanyou, Yuan Jiabao, Xu Zifei, Guan Shaozeng , Xiahou Qiyu, Zhang Jue, Liu Weisen
Synopsis: Tan Momo enters the conservatory of music to learn how to play the guqin, a seven-stringed plucked instrument. His teacher places great hopes on him while his girlfriend, Xia Fei, has the greatest esteem for him. Upon their graduation, Momo, Xia Fei and other young people finally walk out of the campus and begin to experience the ups and downs of real life.

Thei-Go King and His Son

Running Time: 95 minutes
Director: Zhou Wei
Lead stars: Sun Song, Wang Chengyang
Synopsis: Liu Yishou, an amateur Go player, has been laid off. With no other skills to make a living, he teaches Go in a humble training course for children. Life has been hard, and his wife has decided to divorce him. His young son, Xiaochuan, has chosen to stay with him through his difficulties. In an unexpected occasion, Xiaochuan displayed an amazing talent for Go, and his father supported him to further develop his gift for the game.

Li Mi Conjecture

Running time: 95 minutes
Director: Cao Baoping
Lead stars: Zhou Xun, Deng Chao, Zhang Hanyu
Synopsis: Due to the intervention of her parents, taxi driver girl Li Mi breaks up with her long-term boyfriend, Fang Wen. For four years, Li Mi continues to search for his whereabouts in a constant tug-of-war between hope and despair. An eerie murder is witnessed, leading her to a man nearly identical to her missing lover. Could he be the one she has been looking for?

Where Is My Home?

Running time: 95 minutes
Director: Misheng He
Lead stars: Yuan Lu, Fengbin Wang
Synopsis: Mrs. Geng is a simple mother who raises two children on her own. Her son makes his way to the city and offers to have her come live with him and his family. Despite the improved material conditions of the city, Mrs. Geng cannot help but feel lonely. It takes some time before her children understand how she feels and strive to rebuild their family.

City Monkey

Running time: 90 minutes
Synopsis: He Zhiping is a senior high school student who lives in a big old Beijing hutong yard with his mother and grandmother. He loves parkour, an extremely dangerous sport in most people’s eyes. His mother strongly disapproves of it and hopes he could focus only on his entrance exams to university. Clashes of different concepts, rebellion of the youth, and persistence to the ideal are unavoidable problems for them.

Schedule of films (Free Admission on a first come first served basis)

January 24 (Friday)

12 p.m. – Thei-Go King and His Son
2:30 p.m. – 1911 Revolution

January 25 (Saturday)

12:15 p.m. – Where is My Home
2:30 p.m. – 1911 Revolution
5 p.m. – Li Mi Conjecture
7:30 p.m. – Aftershock

January 26 (Sunday)

12 p.m. – Aftershock
2:45 p.m. – Thei-Go King and His Son
5:15 p.m. – 1911 Revolution
7:45 p.m. – Let’s Fall in Love

January 27 (Monday)

12:30 p.m. – Snowfall in Taipei
2:45 p.m. – City Monkey
4:45 p.m. – Where is My Home?
7:30 p.m. – Aftershock

January 28 (Tuesday)

1 p.m. – Li Mi Conjecture
3:30 p.m. – Let’s Fall in Love
5:30 p.m. – Where is My Home?
7:30 p.m. – 1911 Revolution

CAPTAIN PHILLIPS

Tom Hanks, Barkhad Abdi

Catherine Keener

"Out here Survival is Everything"

Muse (Somali pirate): Last year I took a Greek ship. 6 million dollars.

Capt. Richard Phillips: 6 million dollars? So what are you doing here?

Muse: Shut up, Irish. Too much talking.

Capt. Phillips: The problem is not me talking. The problem is you not listening. 

The quote above truly defines in essence why there is a surge in piracy going on in the Horn of Africa waters.  

Paul Greengrass's masterful direction exposes this rampant situation through his film adaptation of a book written by the real Captain Richard Phillips.    Tom Hanks did an excellent job portraying the ordeal that the Maersk Alabama captain went through when he was captured and used as pawn by 4 Somali pirates.

The first part of the film presents the tension filled action sequences. From the high speed chase as the pirates relentlessly pursue the large cargo ship to the time when they actually board and hold the crew and its captain hostage.  

But the actual 'acting' comes into play once the pirates have captured Capt. Phillips and take off with him on board a steel enclosed lifeboat towards Somalia.  They plan to use him as a bait to hike up their ransom demands. The exchange between Capt. Phillips and his captors reveal a lot of insights into the real motives behind their horrific acts.  

The head of the Somali pirates, Muse nonchalantly declares that after everything has settled, he plans to go to America and buy a car.  He says it like it is some matter of fact information that he merely throws out there, totally oblivious to the bigger picture. That what he does for a 'living' is a crime which is punishable by any court in every country. Although his statement was genuinely said, it was also quite tragic to hear and made me shake my head with disbelief.

It also presents the personality of the veteran Captain who tries his best to fathom the ideals of the 'fishermen'.  Despite being brutally captured, he still exudes a lot of humane qualities towards his aggressors. He even helps to clean the wound on the foot of the youngest one from the group.  He also tries to tell them in not so many ways that their efforts are totally futile especially since the US Navy would do everything in their power to rescue him.  He tried to appeal to their moral sense by saying that the cargo he was carrying was going towards a feeding program for African kids.  But it fell on deaf ears!

It also has to be said that naturally the film is biased against the captors.  It is a given that 4 hapless yet fully armed Somali pirates cannot win against the mighty US Navy.  Muse even says "I came too far, I can't give up" - basically resigned to the fact that he is in a no win situation yet persists till the end. 

On the other hand, Captain Phillips himself also realizes that they are not merely fishermen as they claim but hardcore terrorists. They are manipulated and controlled by perhaps some syndicate who may or may not work for the Somali government.  Of course, it is difficult to make accusations without any concrete pieces of evidence yet that is the sense I got from this film.  

A well crafted movie that served as a good vehicle for Tom Hanks to once again amuse us with his brilliant acting. It also exposed a real global crisis that is sadly getting way out of hand.

GRAVITY

Sandra Bullock, George Clooney

"Don't Let Go"

The rookie and the veteran.  

That's how I describe Ryan Stone and Matt Kowalski. It was supposed to be a routine mission where medical engineer Stone (Sandra Bullock) was going to attach a prototype device she spent months developing in her lab.  Unfortunately, disaster struck.  Space debris from a satellite obliterates the space shuttle Explorer aka their ride.   An ultimate nightmare situation ensues as the two 'astronauts' end up drifting aimlessly in the deep dark abyss of outer space.

But let's face it. The view from up there is absolutely fantastic. The picture perfect shot one tends to post on one's Facebook page as their cover photo.   It also helps that you are stuck in space with a charming and quite engaging astronaut named Matt Kowalski (George Clooney) who keeps regaling you with stories of his space missions as well as his adventures in planet Earth. 

Kidding aside, I was quite drawn to the movie although at first I was pondering how a film with only two characters could sustain my interest.   The cinematography is breathtakingly vivid and top notch.  The details were quite authentic from the ISS, the uniforms of the astronauts (American, Russian and Chinese) to the language found on the buttons inside the space shuttles. I even noticed a table tennis (ping pong) racket floating about in the Chinese space shuttle.

But "Gravity" goes way beyond than just being an outer space movie, it extensively explores the human psyche and how it deals with any type of disaster. Then eventually evolves into a tale of survival, self awareness and the triumph of the human spirit.

Capt. Kowalski is the calming presence. A space veteran on his final mission, he is able to put Engineer Stone at ease even though the audience can clearly see for themselves the impending doom.  He is able to draw out the essence of her personality even though she is now and rightfully so in total panic mode. "Why is she named Ryan?"  "Is there a Mr Stone waiting for her?"   Simple questions which reveal a lot about her character.

Ultimately it is Sandra Bullock's film. Her Ryan Stone character more than makes up for all the dumb goofy characters she tends to saddle us with, mercilessly. And I am truly thankful for that and really praise her brilliant performance in this movie.

Finally, I know it would have been awesome to see "Gravity" on the big screen where everything is clearly magnified in all its splendid glory.  Unfortunately, I had to settle by viewing it on my laptop but it is certainly worth every nanosecond.

LEE DANIELS' THE BUTLER

Forest Whitaker, Oprah Winfrey,

Cuba Gooding, Jr, Lenny Kravitz, David Oyelowo

"One quiet voice can ignite a revolution"

First of all, let me just say, I don't know why the director Lee Daniels needed to put his name on the title of this film. In case, we forget who directed it?  I don't know, I just don't see the logic, really.

But having said that, I believe he did an excellent job in presenting the life story of Cecil Gaines (Forest Whitaker), the African American butler who worked for 8 US Presidents in the White House.

Beginning in the early 1920s as a young boy whose family is employed in a white household up to his elder years upon his retirement as a butler in the White House, "The Butler" is a clever depiction of the valuable service of one man to his nation.

The role is played brilliantly by Forest Whitaker, one of the most underrated actors of his generation.  His personification of a man who bore so much hatred (just because of the color of his skin) in his childhood then grows up to be a passive man who resists any form of confrontation is subdued yet expressive.

A witness of history as the American Civil Rights Movement gains momentum to the onslaught of the Vietnam War, he remains in the background (literally) as he serves the man in the highest office of the land.

I like how the film showed how some of the most powerful leaders of the free world would occasionally ask Cecil his input on events which unfolded in America during those tumultuous times.  And even though he is quite reluctant to share his opinions, somehow his 'comments' would bear some weight on the decisions made by these US Presidents.

But the different cameos roles of talented actors portraying these US Presidents was a bit distracting. You tend to focus on the physical similarities of the actors to the actual Presidents than the events which occurred during their tenure in office.  But I also understand the main essence of Lee Daniels in presenting these scenes, if only to show the audience how Cecil Gaines' opinions on current events were in some very small manner quite influential in the decision making processes of the Presidents.  

On the other hand, in his private spectrum Cecil faced a lot of resistance from his oldest son Louis (David Oyelowo) who defiantly joined the Civil Rights Movement.  The huge generation gap between the passive father who prefers to avoid conflict, and his son who cannot fathom the fact that his father is still so subservient is eloquently played out. Their scenes together make up some of the most poignant encounters in the film.

In conclusion, "The Butler" is a well acted, cleverly executed story of one man's struggle to uplift himself through harsh times. A story that transcends through various historical events and their significant impact in the life of Cecil Gaines. An ordinary man who endured and survived extraordinary times.

DARK SHADOWS

Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer, Eva Green,

Helena Bonham Carter, Bella Heathcote,

Chloe Grace Moretz, Jonny Lee Miller

HBO

"Every family has its demons"

When I'm asked who my favorite actor is, I always say it's Johnny Depp. Yet lately for the past decade or so, I've hardly seen any of his movies. He is still my fave though mainly because of his versatility in portraying uniquely quirky characters.  

In "Dark Shadows", he is Barnabas Collins a landed merchant who was turned into a vampire when he rebuffed the romantic notions of a 'witch'.  He is unearthed by mistake after two centuries of being buried alive. It is the year 1972 when bell bottoms and hippie mania was the main trend. He finds himself the head of a dysfunctional family, his descendants still living in Collinwood Manor (the family estate) which has fallen into ruin located in the town named after them, Collinsport. 

This latest collaboration between Depp and Tim Burton is as wacky as can be.  Not really a surprise since it is Tim Burton, after all. It was interesting and funny to see Barnabas Collins readjusting to modern day life as well as to his strange family.  Each of them with their own inner demons to deal with.

Towards the ending though, it got really so messy with a crazy witch exacting her revenge by wreaking havoc.  A chaotic few minutes that results in the total destruction of Collinwood Manor as well as the film itself.   Things just kept on getting weirder by the minute that the only recourse was to switch off the telly and head to bed.

Now I know why and when I stopped watching his films. It was during the period in his career when his collaboration with Tim Burton yielded freaky characters who only appeal to people with a dark sense of humor.  Unfortunately not my cup of tea.  Perhaps it is time I find another fave!

NOW YOU SEE ME

Jesse Eisenberg, Mark Ruffalo, Woody Harrelson

Isla Fisher, Dave Franco, Melanie Laurent
Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman

"4 Amazing Magicians. 3 Impossible Heists.
1 Billion Dollars. This is no Illusion."

The impressive cast can somewhat fool you into thinking this would be a good if not great film. But as illusion is the main theme, we tend to be gullible and therefore most likely be deceived by the spectacular magic tricks.

"The Four Horsemen" as the team is collectively known are a group of highly skilled illusionists. Their show is not merely limited to the simple pulling the rabbit out of the hat sort of tricks. Their daring performances consists of pulling off heists to rob from corrupt merchants and giving the money back to the victims of the scams.  Yes there is a Robin Hood angle right there, come to think about it.

The film relies heavily on computer generated images to dramatize the illusions and magic tricks.  The plot held a lot of promise in the beginning with a sense of suspended disbelief as to who the real mastermind is behind the 4 Horsemen.   Yet midway everything turns pretty blurry and ends with a conclusion that leaves you hankering for more than what unfolded.  I felt cheated by the flat ending considering that the whole movie was about giving back to the duped society their hard earned money.
 

The ensemble cast do their best to sustain the momentum of the film. Yet there is only so much one can do to grab the attention of the audience if the plot itself implodes and self destructs.  It tends to drag on far too long than it is humanly possible to endure.  Yet you keep your eyes glued to the screen the way little kids do when they watch cartoons or animation movies as they are now called because you are drawn into the special effects and the magic tricks.  You really want to know who and what is their motive behind the illusions.

"Now You See Me" is fun to watch especially the high octane performances of the Four Horsemen but as most illusions go don't expect too much or else you would be disappointed once you learn the truth behind these magic tricks.

WORLD WAR Z

Brad Pitt, Mireille Enos

A few days before Halloween I thought it would be fitting to watch a scary film.  As I checked my arsenal folder of films, I noticed I didn't have any horror films (mainly because I am not a fan of this genre). 

Then I saw World War Z - zombie invasion would surely qualify as scary in my opinion.  So I settled down to watch.  At first, surely the very thought of a group of people getting infected with some sort of virus which turns them into zombies is quite frightening for me.  

But as the movie progressed and I saw the extreme lengths Gerry Lane (Brad Pitt) went through to find a 'cure', the idea became less scary and more of a joke. The kind of joke that is passed around several times, it becomes stale relatively faster than you can reach the punchline.

I mean really the fact that the scientist who will extract the vaccine dies (rather carelessly as hitting his head when he slips) within several minutes of the film should tell you it can't be taken seriously.  It seems like Brad Pitt took on this project so he could (a) be the sole hero to the rescue and (b) make a film that will certainly earn him huge brownie points with his young kids.  But then it is Brad Pitt after all and I may be wrong but I don't think that award winning performance would be an apt description as far as his acting skills go.  

Probably that he is too good looking to be taken seriously but judging from his array of films so far, none really scream Oscar worthy acting, right?  So after I got over my initial fear of zombies wreaking mayhem over the universe, I simply settled back and enjoyed this popcorn popping type of mindless entertainment (sans the popcorn, of course).

The film itself is well edited with violent and disturbing images of zombies on the attack in almost every frame.  Even though he goes all over the world (Israel, Scotland) to find the 'solution', the flow of the film is still intact and balanced.  The computer generated images naturally helped in bringing the dramatic intensity factor into play.  

Then just as you expected more 'action', the film ends on an open ended sequence.  This uncertainty cues in a sequel is in the works in the distant or near future.  It would be interesting to see the different premises that will be played before a final closure is brought about.  But until then, life goes on ... preferably without any zombie attacks!