Come and See

Come and See (1985)
Directed by: Elem Klimov

Russian film that takes place in Belarus during WWII.
Psychedelic film that portrays realism of war, not through realistic graphics, but evoking viewer's emotions through sound, use of color, and mise en scene.

Unlike the typical Hollywood war films, Come and See was covert in its complex message.
The music in the background, with minimal dialogue, emphasized silent, but terrifying horrors of the war.
Without the excessive amount of gun shot noises, the movie used imagery that invoke just as disgusting feelings towards war itself. For example, when the main character is going mad, trying to find his family in a thick, reddish swamp, the mud becomes a symbol of all the blood that is spilled from the war.

Throughout the entire movie, scene after another keeps viewers on edge of their seats with dynamic environments the main character ventures to, from deep forest with the Red Army to an unknown town in Belarus that is under an attack by the German army.

Nationalism is branded very strongly in this film. I mean, personally, I think history is written according to the bias of a country. So, it is true that the death of Soviets are often overlooked in the American history when WWII is mentioned. However, Come and See reminds all of us, everyone around the globe - because it caught international attention through numerous awards - that Russians and Eastern Europeans, were brutally affected by an indescribably horrifying total war. Often in the movie, the main character holds his mouth shut, and gasp at horrifying reality. This portrays the emotions of how Russians and Eastern Europeans must have felt. What happened was so horrifying that people have lost words to describe it. So, we should understand that sometimes, there are silenced reality in the midst of loud and dominant voices.

Sergeant York

Sergeant York (1941)
Directed by Howard Hawk



What a classic "American hero" film.
- the fact that the biggest star of the time - Gary Cooper - starred in the film
- the main character, Alvin York, was not the perfect, but hard working man, who just wanted to provide for a happy family.
- war movie with semi-happy ending with least amount of killing, and peaceful surrender by the enemies

Apparently, this movie encouraged a lot of men to enlist in the military during WWII.

However, I found different, somewhat conflicting, ideologies portrayed in this film.
The complex problem intertwined with war that fights for our freedom versus our inherently religious beliefs.
In the movie, Alvin is torn between fighting for his country versus Bible verses that specifically points out not to kill anyone. In the end, he is convinced - not very clear of the reasons, but somehow he is - that he should be ready to die for his country, but not necessarily kill. Alvin is portrayed as a guy who is genuine, but not very clever, so I guess that's where the incoherent idea still flows in the film. On the surface, it seems that York is a great American hero, who fight for what is right and the love of God and his country. However, thinking about the characteristics of York, he is almost pushed into the beginning and end of the war without really thinking, only doing what he is told to do by the people around him.

Aside from watching the film as a piece of propaganda during the war time, it is a great film of the era. Fantastic cinematography and clever shots, edited to constantly to catch audiences' attention.

No Strings Attached

Director: Ivan Reitman (My Super Ex-Girlfriend; was producer for I Love You, Man & Up In the Air)
Screen Play Writer: Elizabeth Meriwether
Actors: Natalie Portman and Ashton Kutcher

As a premed nerd, one scene that made me smile was " you give me premature ventricular contraction", which is a problem when your heart skips a beat. I love lines that have science or math references. So intelligently romantic.

Anyhow, the movie is about two "friends with benefits". However, the movie hints that they were each other's "love at first sight". Thus, in a way, the movie contains somewhat cliche theme that there are soul-mates in the world that are attracted to each other no matter how different they are. So again we learn that there are just certain people in this world that you just cannot forget, because of circumstances that make the relationship seem like a destiny.

Carrying on with the theme, the movie was actually very well made for a "chick-flick". I really thought every transitions were smooth, the acting was very well done, shots were just pretty enough for a romantic comedy. I knew that the director was experienced at least. So, luckily, there was nothing about the movie that I frowned upon. Just a good homored romantic comedy.

I really liked the personalities of the characters and how they were played. Natalie Portman did a fabulous job of a smart, cold hearted doctor who is way too serious about her career that she has no time for love. I think those "workaholic" women are somewhat trendy in the movies these days. I think there are definitely elements in those characters that working women these days can really relate to. Like, there's this "new" contrasting goal in life for women, like getting a great career and finding the right person to love. It's a difficult dilemma that maybe all women in 21st century face.

Then, for these women, there are always the prince charming who follows these beautiful but busy women around. Especially for Ashton Kutcher, he always plays the guy who falls in love with girls who are workaholics, wrapped up in their career that they have no room in their minds for love. Like, he loves Jessica
Alba in Valentine's Day. Kutcher has this charming image that he can make anyone fall in love with him, and besides, he has the best "I am hurt by love" look, that makes all the audience to feel so bad for him. Oh man, I have to stop watching his movies.

Overall, the movie was a pretty well made romantic comedy, made with an experienced eye.

The King's Speech

If you have seen this year’s Oscar, then you would probably know how well The King’s Speech was made. From acting to screen play to directing, the highly praised movie was one of the best films made in 2010. It’s quite interesting to learn that the movie was produced by an independent film production company based in London, England - See-Saw Films, instead of a big companies like BBC Films. In addition, Tom Hooper is a rising director from London, who has focused mostly on television series. Thus, it maybe both element of the independent films that made The King’s Speech more aesthetically pleasing in the aspect of cinematography and the screen play.

            The King’s Speech is based on a true story. King George VI – played by Colin Firth – suffers from a speech impediment. With the rising use of the radio in the 1930s, a speech impediment was detrimental to the loyal family. As a duke, George VI had to give public announcements through the radio or even at a public event. However, because of his speech problems, Prince George VI was losing his confidence to contribute to the national politics. In finding a remedy for his problem, he seeks every speech therapist in England. Sick and tired of going through crazy therapies ranging from speaking while stuffing the mouth with marbles to smoking cigarette to alleviate nervousness, Prince George VI puts his last bet on a shabby actor – whom calls himself a therapist, not a doctor – Lionel Logue (played by Geoffrey Rush).

Although Lionel is not a licensed professional, he takes the duke through special trainings that fixes the innate problem to his speech impediment – to provide an opportunity to regain confidence about speaking. Through trial and error, tears and smiles, the gap between the loyal heir and an aged actor became nonexistent towards the end of the movie.

Although this piece of history from England maybe a very interesting historical fact, without the artistic directing and cinematography, the movie could have been very dry with merely the historical element. Every scene seemed to be very thought out; especially the proportions with the space in the room and the actors were very different from the conventional scenes. For example, the character’s face was often concentrated on one side of the screen, providing more negative space. On top of the unusual proportions on the screen, the color palette – gray and brown – in the movie fit right into the theme, giving a very neutral but a hint of gloomy mood to the film. All these components put together created every scene a piece of artwork.

Of course, the superb acting needs to be recognized. Colin Firth has acted the role of royalty in several movies. What shocked the audience was his ability to act a dignifying duke with a speech impediment. He exemplified the frustration with the disorder as well as with his country perfectly, delivering every sense of what the character feels. In addition, Helena Bonham Carter showed that she is a superb actress who can succeed in any genre, from someone bizarre as Bellatrix Lestrange in the Harry Potter movie to someone as sweet and elegant as the Queen Elizabeth in The King’s Speech. Definitely two thumbs up for the actors as well as the casting director.

Overall, the movie is one of the best made films of 2010 with a great history lesson, artistic scenes, and a lesson of friendship across the social status. 

Sideways

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I think there is something beautiful and amazing about being so oblivious to the techniques of cinema and fully understanding the deep meaning. I don’t understand how some awards are given out for a movie, I mean; I don’t fully understand the standard of aesthetics. See, this is the beauty that I am talking about, this wonder, a mixture of fear of being wrong with little bit of hope that everyone has different opinions. Sideways received tons of awards and praises, including an Oscar for the best screenplay.Honestly, the movie was deep but boring. From reading the reviews and critiques, I began to truly wonder what is the standard for a "good movie".

But Sideways really made me think about the mix of coding made by the writer, and the acting that supports the written words, which can ultimately even change the encoding of the meaning of the story for the viewers.

Sideway is such a sadistic comedy. It’s a dry comedy with a mix of life lessons intertwined with finding love, which can be defined in multiple ways. There is just constant flux that takes place in the movie, whether it be the constantly changing mood the feelings of the main character, or thoughts about love, that the only solid thing that grips the audience in place is simply wine.

So the movie is about a week of freedom for a groom-to-be with his best man. They go on a trip to go around bunch of vineyards in California  (even this part made me wonder, WHY? More about that later) But of course, the groom-to-be, Jack, wants more than just wine tasting and talking about pinot. While Jack goes crazy trying to find a girl to enjoy his last minute freedom, the main character, Miles, have way too much going on in his mind, from his ex-wife to his book that’s not getting published for years now. Along the way, he meets a wonderful lady named Maya, who he shares a similar interest in life with. Because of his sour situation in life, Miles is afraid of starting a relationship with Maya. Mile’s complicated and frustrating actions toward love and life makes the entire movie gloomy and hopeless. Actually, even Jack’s dumbfounded way of weighing love so lightly adds to the theme of the movie.

The juxtaposition of wine and life, the forced metaphor, was great. Wine ages and eventually reaches its peak, like people. How beautiful. But except for that, the whole movie is just so sour and really gives off that “deep-purple” mood like the actual wine.

You got to be in one of “those mood” to enjoy this movie. If you were looking for a comedy, DO NOT REACH FOR THIS MOVIE. It’s really one of those movies you ought to watch by yourself with a glass of dark wine, on one of those “I am just a little depressed” days. 

Tangled

Zachary Levi, the one who played Flynn Rider – the “prince charming”, said in an interview, “everything you love about Disney, you will find it in Tangled”. After watching the new highly praised animated film from Disney, I see why Levi described the movie in such a simple sentence, but this princess movie is a lot more than just beautiful blond princess being saved from a tower far away from her kingdom.

The story is a spin-off of a well-known Grimm Brothers’ fairy tale, “Rapunzel”. An evil enchantress takes baby Rapunzel away from her royal family, and raises her at a faraway tower, secluded from the world. However, Tangled only took the basic frame from the Grimm’s Brothers’ fairy tale. Rapunzel in Tangled is more adventurous and free-spirited than the original one. In addition, instead of being saved by a prince-charming, the modern Rapunzel is not saved, but rather finds herself out of the castle after negotiating with a thief with a kind heart. As the thief, Flynn Rider, guides Rapunzel to venture out into the real world, they find true love for each other. As with many Disney princess movies, the ending is predictably similar to the original with the “happily ever after”.

The new modern spin to the original “Rapunzel” is a great adjustment to all the criticism that Disney has been getting about their subliminal messages. Some people might argue that Disney princess movies are merely cartoons to entertain children and suit their imagination about castles and prince charming. However, many studies have shown that these animated movies may influence some basic ideals of the society to children. The most criticized theme of Disney has been “a helpless beautiful woman, just waiting to be saved by a strong gorgeous prince charming”. Thus, Rapunzel in the modern version was everything what a current society wants a woman to be: adventurous, strong, smart, and courageous. For example, in several dangerous situations, Rapunzel is the one to save Flynn Rider. Plus, it wasn’t Rapunzel’s pretty charms that had Flynn Rider fall in love with her, but rather it was her outgoing personality. This idea will help the little viewers to understand the meaning of true love.  Actually, there was a very positive main theme to the movie: go live your dream. The idea is based from Rapunzel’s wish to go out to the real world away from her tower, but the idea is further built with extra characters’ dreams that are not quite fitting to their thug characters. Thus, the story collaborates to show that anyone can achieve their dream when pursued with persistence. 

In addition to a great message, another reason why this movie can be loved by the adult viewers is because of the amazing music. Disney is known to have great soundtrack, from Beauty and the Beast to Mulan, and Disney has done it again with the modern Rapunzel! Music was written by Alan Menken, an eight-time Oscar composer/song writer who wrote music for The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, etc. The theme song, “I See the Light” has been nominated as Best Original Song for Golden Globes as well as the Academy Awards. Of course, adding to the wonderfully composed music was the melodious singing of the cast, Mandy Moore as Rapunzel, Zachary Levi as Flynn Rider, and Donna Murphy. Many Moore has a sweet girl-next-door voice that fitted to her role as a lovely 18 years old, Zachary Levi was a pleasant surprise with his witty prince charming voice with a right tone for the soothing song, and Donna Murphy blew the listener away with her experiences from the Broadway.

Overall, Disney movies are quickly evolving to fit the social changes of the current society while keeping some room for young viewers’ imaginations about true love. Tangled is a high quality animated film with strong story, beautiful images, high end casts, topped with sweet melodies from the most re-known soundtrack composer of this century. 

Love and Other Drugs

After watching Love and Other Drugs, I thought, maybe Love is the best drug for our lives. The movie starts in Jamie Randall’s house – played by Jake Gyllenhaal – showing how unsuccessful his life is compared to his father who is a professor at a medical school, his sister who is a doctor, and his brother who has just sold his medical computer program for 35 million dollars. Then he heads off to become a pharmaceutical rep at Ohio River Valley, where he tries to persuade doctors to prescribe Zoloft, a new competitor of Prozac – drug that supposedly makes people happy and suppress anger. There, he meets Maggie Murdock – played by Anne Hathaway – who is a 27 year old with Parkinson’s disease. What started off as “friends with benefits”, Jamie begins to truly fall in love with Maggie while she is afraid of any serious relationships because of her incurable disease. Without giving too much away, rest of the movie builds up conflicts between the two lovers, questioning the audience “how much can you give up for love?”

            The director Edward Zwick who is known for directing Blood Diamond and The Last Samurai excelled in adding humor to a deep love story. The movie uses comic relief very affectively to lighten the mood, making the movie multi-dimensional and more dynamic. The way Zwick put the setting of the movie to the late 80s set the tone for romantic movies of that time, like When Harry Met Sally, which contains realistic subtle love that makes audiences smile. In combination of these factors, Love and Other Drugs will make audiences flip-flop between different emotions.

            However, like with all the movies, Love and Other Drugs can be credited to be a well-made romantic comedy, because of the excellent cast. For both Jake Gyllenhaal and Anne Hathaway, their roles in the movie were somewhat unconventional to the characters they usually pick.  Gyllenhaal has been seen as a great actor in more of serious films like Donnie Darko or The Brokeback Mountain. To see him as a witty everyday character added another dimension to his acting career. For Anne Hathaway, who took greater variety of roles even before the movie, playing seductive yet very vulnerable character of Maggie Murdock showed the audience that she can move on to the next level, to become an actress who is never afraid to try anything adventurous.

           

Although the movie might seem like a light romantic comedy full of two characters making love at the most random moments, the movie definitely contains a lot more meaning about love than what is initially perceived. All the provocative sex scenes were there to add to Jamie’s confession, “You meet thousands of people and none of them really touch you and then you meet one person and your life is changed forever.” Seeing Jamie – the pharmaceutical representative – find his cure of his life through his true love for Maggie shows that love is as powerful but also addictive as any drug, which even comes with some unexpected side effects.