pelikula: We’re still taking a break from our Women’s Month Feature to bring you another review of a film that’s recently released in Philippine theaters. He Sees Clouds in the Shape of Cock by Jansen Musico I Love You, Phillip Morris (2009) D: Glenn Ficarra, John Requa S: Jim Carrey, Ewan McGregor, Leslie Mann George Bush is stupid. This is one of the many things you can deduce after watching I Love You Phillip Morris. It’s a biopic centered on famous American con-artist and prison-escapist Steven Jay Russell, whose shoes are filled by Jim Carrey (I’ll get to him in a bit). Russell’s life had been the center of much interest in the late 90s. His infamous escapes from prison, not to mention the thousands of dollars he embezzled from big-time companies, made him eligible enough to be a subject of documentaries. A criminal track record like his is so amazingly rare that it deserves a movie, right? But then again, it’s been done before with Spielberg’s 2002 flick, Catch Me If You Can. There is an important difference, though: Steven Russell is gay. What better way to way to define this movie than play up that gay angle and turn it into a dramedy? I guess this was the idea producer Luc Besson and company had in mind when they cast Carrey as the lead. Carrey is hilarious. He brings his own brand of comedy and drama which is elevated by the movie’s use of non-linear devices and spot-on cinematography. The only problem with Carrey’s casting, despite his effectiveness, is the fact that we never really get to see much of who Steven Russell really was. Carrey’s performance is more reminiscent of Fletcher Reed in Liar, Liar, only this time, he’s a homosexual with an accent. Ewan McGregor does a good job playing the titular Phillip Morris, Russell’s gay lover. With the bleached blonde hair, flapping wrists, and hips that sway like daffodils in the breeze, he pins down the stereotypical Southern queen. Although his Scottish accent sometimes overpowers his supposed natural twang, he makes it believable. What isn’t as convincing, though, is the connection between Carrey and McGregor. Like their characters, they’re too mismatched. Carrey comes off too manic while McGregor is too soft. The only thing that holds them together is the nicely embellished telling of their see-saw romance. Pink fluff aside, the movie gives its audience this interesting look at the Texas judiciary system and how easy it is for a guy like Russell to maneuver it to his advantage… repeatedly. The system becomes that biting punchline. This, I think, gives the film its fangs and makes it worthy of praise. So far, the film has garnered applause as it makes its way through the international film circuit (minus the USA, which hasn’t screened it nationwide yet). I Love You Phillip Morris is funny, revealing, and worth a glance. View full size

pelikula:

We’re still taking a break from our Women’s Month Feature to bring you another review of a film that’s recently released in Philippine theaters.

He Sees Clouds in the Shape of Cock
by Jansen Musico

I Love You, Phillip Morris (2009)
D: Glenn Ficarra, John Requa
S: Jim Carrey, Ewan McGregor, Leslie Mann

George Bush is stupid. This is one of the many things you can deduce after watching I Love You Phillip Morris. It’s a biopic centered on famous American con-artist and prison-escapist Steven Jay Russell, whose shoes are filled by Jim Carrey (I’ll get to him in a bit). Russell’s life had been the center of much interest in the late 90s. His infamous escapes from prison, not to mention the thousands of dollars he embezzled from big-time companies, made him eligible enough to be a subject of documentaries. A criminal track record like his is so amazingly rare that it deserves a movie, right? But then again, it’s been done before with Spielberg’s 2002 flick, Catch Me If You Can. There is an important difference, though: Steven Russell is gay.

What better way to way to define this movie than play up that gay angle and turn it into a dramedy? I guess this was the idea producer Luc Besson and company had in mind when they cast Carrey as the lead. Carrey is hilarious. He brings his own brand of comedy and drama which is elevated by the movie’s use of non-linear devices and spot-on cinematography. The only problem with Carrey’s casting, despite his effectiveness, is the fact that we never really get to see much of who Steven Russell really was. Carrey’s performance is more reminiscent of Fletcher Reed in Liar, Liar, only this time, he’s a homosexual with an accent.

Ewan McGregor does a good job playing the titular Phillip Morris, Russell’s gay lover. With the bleached blonde hair, flapping wrists, and hips that sway like daffodils in the breeze, he pins down the stereotypical Southern queen. Although his Scottish accent sometimes overpowers his supposed natural twang, he makes it believable. What isn’t as convincing, though, is the connection between Carrey and McGregor. Like their characters, they’re too mismatched. Carrey comes off too manic while McGregor is too soft. The only thing that holds them together is the nicely embellished telling of their see-saw romance.

Pink fluff aside, the movie gives its audience this interesting look at the Texas judiciary system and how easy it is for a guy like Russell to maneuver it to his advantage… repeatedly. The system becomes that biting punchline. This, I think, gives the film its fangs and makes it worthy of praise. So far, the film has garnered applause as it makes its way through the international film circuit (minus the USA, which hasn’t screened it nationwide yet). I Love You Phillip Morris is funny, revealing, and worth a glance.

(via loveyourchaos) For my referenceView full size

(via loveyourchaos)

For my reference

Watched this film for my critical thinking class today. Intenz. We’re gonna finish it on Thursday but I already think it’s a gooood one.View full size

Watched this film for my critical thinking class today. Intenz. We’re gonna finish it on Thursday but I already think it’s a gooood one.

weallseekthetruth: whatwewillbe: (via zepherus) View full size

weallseekthetruth:

whatwewillbe:

(via zepherus)

The Beatles, they had it all figured out, okay? “I Want to Hold Your Hand.” The first single. It’s effing brilliant, right?… That’s what everybody wants, Nicky. They don’t want a twenty-four-hour hump sesh, they don’t want to be married to you for a hundred years. They just want to hold your hand.
— Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist (via chcherrybomber)
pelikula: Weightless by R. Sedricke Lapuz Up in the Air (2009) D: Jason Reitman S: George Clooney, Anna Kendrick, Vera Farmiga It would be difficult for anyone to write an objective assessment of a piece of art, say, a film, when the said object hits too close to home and evokes turmoil at a personal level. For instance, while watching Jason Reitman’s Up in the Air, the life that I wanted to have was presented in front of me in a glamorous way, exactly how I imagined it. Ryan Bingham (George Clooney) is who I wanted to be, or maybe he is I currently. All the saving for nothing but for the sake of saving, the no-relationships, no-commitments, no-weight-in-the-backpack drama. That is me. That is thousands of people from my generation who aspire to live the 21st century flying back and forth cities, living up in the clouds, up in the air. It’s not as if Ryan will not ever become infatuated with anyone. He is still human, after all. But the opposites attract principle will never ring true in this situation, though, for he lives unconventionally. Polarity would be inconvenient. Thus the object of Ryan’s affection will be from a similar breed, the kind that also collects loyalty cards and lives in airports and hotels. The Vera Farmiga character, Alex Goran, is the perfect specimen. She said it perfectly: “Think of me as you, but with a vagina.” And how unexpectedly romantic when Ryan replied, “When can I see you?” Change rattles everyone, and in this case it comes in the form of ideal fresh grad Natalie Keener (Anna Kendrick), who does not only want to revolutionize the way Ryan does business (he flies to fire people, she wants to fire them through webcam), but also forces him to settle down and stay with his family. The discomfort/dread is so visibly etched on Ryan’s face that it’s amusing. It’s saying, “Where’s the fun in that?” This competition between Ryan and Natalie was fun to watch. The events that transpired much later on, however, dampened my personal fantasy. Depending on your personality, you will either agree with it or hate it. I hate it. But like I said, it hit so close to home that it made me rethink what I want, and how I want my life to be. I guess that would be art for you. Artists create their little ouvres, anyway, to make you feel, or to let you feel what they feel. Art should evoke something in you. For me, this is the best film of 2009. — Up in the Air is now showing in theaters in the Philippines. Click here to check out the screening times around Metro Manila. View full size

pelikula:

Weightless
by R. Sedricke Lapuz

Up in the Air (2009)
D: Jason Reitman
S: George Clooney, Anna Kendrick, Vera Farmiga

It would be difficult for anyone to write an objective assessment of a piece of art, say, a film, when the said object hits too close to home and evokes turmoil at a personal level. For instance, while watching Jason Reitman’s Up in the Air, the life that I wanted to have was presented in front of me in a glamorous way, exactly how I imagined it.

Ryan Bingham (George Clooney) is who I wanted to be, or maybe he is I currently. All the saving for nothing but for the sake of saving, the no-relationships, no-commitments, no-weight-in-the-backpack drama. That is me. That is thousands of people from my generation who aspire to live the 21st century flying back and forth cities, living up in the clouds, up in the air.

It’s not as if Ryan will not ever become infatuated with anyone. He is still human, after all. But the opposites attract principle will never ring true in this situation, though, for he lives unconventionally. Polarity would be inconvenient. Thus the object of Ryan’s affection will be from a similar breed, the kind that also collects loyalty cards and lives in airports and hotels. The Vera Farmiga character, Alex Goran, is the perfect specimen. She said it perfectly: “Think of me as you, but with a vagina.” And how unexpectedly romantic when Ryan replied, “When can I see you?”

Change rattles everyone, and in this case it comes in the form of ideal fresh grad Natalie Keener (Anna Kendrick), who does not only want to revolutionize the way Ryan does business (he flies to fire people, she wants to fire them through webcam), but also forces him to settle down and stay with his family. The discomfort/dread is so visibly etched on Ryan’s face that it’s amusing. It’s saying, “Where’s the fun in that?” This competition between Ryan and Natalie was fun to watch.

The events that transpired much later on, however, dampened my personal fantasy. Depending on your personality, you will either agree with it or hate it. I hate it. But like I said, it hit so close to home that it made me rethink what I want, and how I want my life to be.

I guess that would be art for you. Artists create their little ouvres, anyway, to make you feel, or to let you feel what they feel. Art should evoke something in you.

For me, this is the best film of 2009.

—
Up in the Air is now showing in theaters in the Philippines. Click here to check out the screening times around Metro Manila.