tebak-tebakan pemenang oscar

Percaya atau tidak, saya sudah nonton 7 dari 9 film yang dinominasikan sebagai film terbaik tahun ini untuk memenangkan Oscar. Dua film yang belum saya tonton adalah Lincoln dan Argo. Jadi berbekal hal ini, rasanya sudah pantas saya nekat untuk menebak-nebak siapa yang akan mendapatkan piala Oscar tersebut besok.

Best supporting actor: Christoph Waltz - Django Unchained

Kenapa? Menurut saya, dari film Django Unchained, selain Waltz, Leonardo DiCaprio dan Samuel L. Jackson layak untuk dinominasikan untuk kategori ini, namun karena mereka dilewatkan, mungkin Oscar merasa bersalah dan kemudian memberikan kemenangan itu kepada Waltz. HAHAHA. Selain itu, akting Waltz di film ini sangat natural.

Best supporting actress: Anne Hathaway - Les Miserables

Like we have to think, seriously! Anne akan menang. Kembali seperti Django, Oscar juga melewatkan Samantha Barks, yang menurut saya tampil keren banget dan harusnya masuk nominasi. 

Best director: David O. Russel - Silver Linings Playbook

Hmm, tanpa Ben Affleck, kategori ini mungkin bisa jadi rebutan antara David O. Russel dan Steven Spielberg. Setelah Bigelow ngalahkan Cameron dan Hazanvicius mengalahkan Scorsese, tampaknya O. Russel bakal menang kali ini. Jujur, saya ingin sekali melihat Michael Haneke yang menang. Percaya tidak kalau ternyata Haneke belum pernah dapat Oscar sebagai sutradara terbaik? Dunia apa ini!?

Best actor: Daniel Day Lewis - Lincoln

Oscar suka dengan aktor yang memerankan tokoh sejarah. Selain Denzel dan Phoenix yang filmnya nyaris tidak ada kabar apa-apa, aktor yang lain masih muda, masih ada kesempatan yang lain. HEHEHE.

Best actress: Jessica Chastain - Zero Dark Thirty

Untuk kategori ini, rasanya Oscar cuma jadi rebutan Jessica dan Jennifer. Awalnya, saya menjagokan Jeniffer, tetapi begitu saya selesai menonton kedua film ini, saya percaya Jessica yang harusnya menang. Walaupun keduanya dikalahkan di Bafta oleh Emanuelle Riva dan karena itu pula, sebagaian dari diri saya menginginkan Riva yang menang. Sesuatu yang sulit rasanya.

Best picture: Lincoln

Kayaknya ini bakal jadi lomba-lombanya Argo dan Lincoln. Namun karena Argo nyaris gak kebagian apa-apa dalam kategori yang lain dibandingkan 12 nominasi untuk Lincoln, sepertinya Lincoln akan menang. Hal yang sama berlaku untuk Django Unchained. 

Amour tidak mungkin menang untuk kategori ini karena dia akan menang di kategori film asing terbaik. Sisanya, selain sudah kebagian di kategori lain, seperti Silver, atau bakal menang di kategori yang teknis, seperti Life of Pi, atau mungkin tidak akan kebagian apa-apa, seperti Beasts.

Yah namanya juga tebakan. Oscars, tanggal 24, Senin ini.

[au ciné] the beauty of the very violent django unchained

DJANGO UNCHAINED
Director: Quentin Tarantino
Stars: Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz
Year: 2013

"Django. The D is silent."

In case you're wondering, yes, I had a very good weekend. I went to see some movies, catch up with a friend, dining with my family. One of the movies I did watch last Saturday was Django Unchained. I must say that I love this movie so much.

Like most of Quentin Tarantino's movies, at the end of every movie, I felt that I just saw something that's totally new, something that has not been done before. I was like this kid being amazed at a fair or something. The same thing happened to me with Django.

Django in short, is about a slave who was given his freedom by this German bounty hunter, whom acquired his help to hunt some law-breakers. Soon after the winter ends, Django decided to search for his wife and planned to free her as well.

Let's put it this way: Quentin has a big head not for nothing. It contains a big busy brain. He is so clever that he could make a very simple non-twisted story line interesting. The dialog, every line seems like a quote from Paulo Coelho's books or something. It's violent, it's extravagant, it's offensive and it's the kind of movie that you would associate with Tarantino.

His love for those tacky B-movies again influenced so much of the movie. The over-the-top blood splats, the crazy opening credit and the tacky soundtrack are exactly why Django is an instant classic. I don't think we could talk about Tarantino without associate him with this movie.

And I have mentioned all these eccentric characters? Leave it to Tarantino to write the most interesting, mind-blowing fictional characters that ever graced our silver screen. And sweet one, they're named with unusual names. Just when you thought nothing could be any weirder than Beatrix Kiddo, here comes Broomhilda von Shaft, Calvin Candie and Django, with a silent D. Do you think Tarantino laughed his ass off when he decided on the names of the characters he wrote?

Just like Inglorious Basterds, soon after I watched it, I firmly believed Waltz deserves his Oscar. In Django, he gave a crazy natural performance as the charismatic Dr. Schultz. I won't be surprised if he eventually wins this year's Oscar for the best supporting role. Leonardo DiCaprio was also taking risk as the flamboyant Monsieur Candie and it works. It's a snub that he wasn't even nominated, totally! Jamie Foxx, Samuel L. Jackson are always good actors and they proved it so.

In short, I beyond love this f-ing movie!

[au ciné] rectoverso

RECTOVERSO

Sutradara: Olga Lydia, Cathy Sharon, Marcella Zalianty, Happy Salma, Rachel Maryam

Bintang: Amanda Soekasah, Lukman Sardi, Yama Carlos

Tahun: 2013

"Aku jatuh cinta pada seseorang yang hanya mampu aku gapai sebatas punggungnya saja.

Seseorang yang aku sanggup menikmati bayangannya dan tidak akan pernah bisa aku miliki,

seseorang yang hadir bagai bintang jatuh, 

sekelebat kemudian menghilang, 

sebelum tangan ini sanggup mengejar,

seseorang yang hanya bisa aku kirimi isyarat, 

sehalus udara, langit awan atau hujan."

Saya harus akui kalau saya belum pernah membaca karya tulis Dewi Lestari dalam bentuk apapun. Tanpa malu, saya juga harus akui sebelum menonton film ini, pengetahuan saya akan kumpulan cerita pendek karya Dee boleh dibilang nihil. Justru karena begitu, saya percaya kalau saya adalah orang yang paling sering menghelakan dan menahan nafas selama pemutaran film ini. Yep, call me lebay!

Rectoverso sendiri mempunyai beberapa arti. Dalam dunia percetakan recto-verso adalah pengkodean halaman dari kanan ke kiri, seperti buku-buku dalam bahasa Arab atau Mandarin. Dalam bahasa Perancis (bahasa yang tampaknya tidak akan pernah saya kuasai dengan mahir walau sudah bertahun-tahun belajar juga), rectoverso mempunyai arti dua sisi dari selembar kertas. 

Dalam beberapa situs, Rectoverso disebut sebagai film omnibus, yang mana artinya film ini adalah kumpulan dari beberapa film pendek yang mempunyai satu kesamaan. Dalam hal ini, kesamaan dari semua film-film pendek ini adalah akhir kisah cinta yang tidak bahagia. Pendeknya, gak ada yang bahagia di film ini.

Rectoverso terdiri dari 5 segmen dengan 5 sutradara muda. Seperti pengakuan saya sebelumnya, kelima kisah film-film pendek ini didasari dari kumpulan cerita pendek popular karya Dewi Lestari. Kelima cerita tersebut adalah: Cicak di Dinding, Firasat, Curhat untuk Sahabat, Malaikat juga Tahu dan bagian yang paling saya sukai, Hanya Isyarat. Sinopsis dari masing-masing film pendek ini dapat dilihat di situs Rectoverso.

Sedikit catatan untuk Hanya Isyarat. Ini adalah bagian yang paling-paling-paling saya sukai (Kudu 3 kali palingnya, biar pada jelas!). Selain latar belakang pantai dan laut, dialog di adegan-adegan film pendek ini begitu puitis tanpa berkesan norak atau terlalu baku, seolah-olah sang penulis naskah menggunakan KBBI sebagai acuan menulis. Justru sebaliknya dialog-dialog puitis ini menggugah emosi penonton (baca: saya) dengan teratur, dengan rapi dan hasilnya sangat menyentuh.

Apa yang membuat film ini begitu istimewa sebagai satu kesatuan? Selain naskah yang ditulis dengan baik, juga keberhasilan sutradara-sutradara perempuan ini yang berhasil menerjemahkan tulisan-tulisan tersebut dengan gambar, dengan adegan yang begitu puitis, begitu rapi, begitu menyentuh. Di-edit dengan begitu baik, sehingga alur cerita dari keroyokan 5 film pendek terkesan sangat rapi dan tidak membingungkan.

Tentunya, keberhasilan film ini juga dipengaruhi oleh kesempurnaan pemeran-pemeran dari film ini dalam menjiwai karakter yang sungguh beragam, seperti Lukman Sardi, membawakan peran Abang, karakter yang sangat istimewa, dengan emosi yang berapi-api atau Amanda Soekasah, sebagai Al yang memberikan kesan tertutup dan Soekasah berhasil menghipnotis saya dengan kemampuan yang luar biasa. Selain mereka, tentunya masih ada pemeran-pemeran lain yang layak untuk dikenang, seperti: Yama Carlos, Dewi Irawan, dan bahkan Sophia Latjuba tidak mengecewakan.

Mungkin satu-satunya kesalahan film ini adalah saat lagu Malaikat juga Tahu berkumandang dengan begitu tidak pada tempat dan saatnya, seperti usaha -siapapun itu- untuk menguras emosi penonton. Mungkin dengan musik orkestra atau bahkan petikan gitar, rangkaian adegan-adegan akhir film itu lebih mengguncang emosi saya.

Sayang sekali, Rectoverso diputar tidak lebih dari 25 biskop di Jakarta dan sebagian besar biskop-biskop tersebut adalah biskop kecil. 

Sungguh disayangkan.

I own no right for all the photos. They are taken mostly from internet.

[au ciné] les misérables

LES MISÉRABLES
Director: Tom Hooper
Stars: Hugh Jackman, Russel Crowe
Year released: 2012/2013

"I had a dream my life would be 

so different from this hell I'm living

so different now from what it seemed

Now life has killed the dream I dreamed"

It's undeniable that Les Misérables might be one of the most famous and successful musicals. That's why I assume many of the songs in this musical have become so popular. Although it's irritating, but I somehow understand if the people sit next to me cannot help themselves but to sing along "I Dreamed a Dream" or even "A Heart Full of Love".

Even so, musical is not for everyone. According to a friend who hates this movie and all movies that involve singing as the dialogues, unlike the spoken-dialogue movies (you know what I mean!), musicals lack of emotions and I guess that made Tom Hooper decide to record all the singing live. Pardon my musical knowledge, but when I watched this movie and listened to how Jackman (and some others) sang most of the songs in a very staccato-esque style (Alright, no sure this term does exist). It's like his (their) voice is stamping and it makes it more emotional than actually just talking. HAHAHA. I hope I didn't talk nonsense.

Anyway, if you ask me whether I like the movie? I must say I'm caught in between. In my opinion, Tom Hooper's take on the musical works partially on smaller scenes, like when Fantine sang about her dying dream, Eponine sang her one-way love or even Valjean's repentance. They're all very emotional, the scenes were greatly shot. Somehow when it comes to big grandeur scene, like the battles, the beginning of the riot, they all kind of fell short, maybe except the opening scene.

So yeah, I don't think it's a snub that Hooper didn't any directing nomination, but I'm truly glad that Anne Hathaway and Hugh Jackman did. The truest snub here would be Samantha Banks. She should be nominated, people!

Would I recommend the movie? Let's put it this way, if you like it, you're probably going to watch it over and over again. If you like it, you know the songs by heart and you cannot help yourself not to sing it while it's one, people probably are going to hate for it. If you're not into musicals, like this friend of mine I quote, it's probably a very torturing 150 minutes.

they found love in a hopeless place

DE ROUILLE ET D'OS (RUST AND BONE)

Director: Jacques Audiard

Stars: Matthias Schoenaerts, Marion Cotillard

Year released: 2012

Rust and Bone tells a tale of a struggling single father who somehow involves with an killer-whale trainer who lost her both legs. Ali left Belgium with his son, Sam. Being broke, Ali had to collect leftovers for their supper. Arrived in France, they stayed with Ali's sister as he started his job as a bouncer in a club where he met Stéphanie, a killer-whale trainer, who seemed to be unhappy with her life. I might be a bit subjective, but in case you didn't know what a good actress Cotillard is. She could make her character look depressed without even trying too hard.

Somehow, they found comfort in each other. Unlike many love stories, this one squeeze out the romantic aspect and left it completely raw and bare. The relationship between Ali and Stéphanie grew after she had an accident that caused her both legs amputated. From a club bouncer, a mall security to boxing, Ali tried to make living. To all his illegal boxing matches, Stéphanie was never absent. Until she finally became his manager with all her disability.

Their relationship was going on a very rocky road as she dealt with her disability and he dealt with his own issues. After an accident that almost killed his son, Sam, everything started to fall into places. We all know it's love when Ali whispered through his phone to Stéphanie, "Je t'aime". I guess at that time I was jumping up and down and happy that they finally made it.

First time, I watched the trailer, I thought the movie will mostly talk about Cotillard's character, Stéphanie and how she dealt with her difficulties, but it was a love story between two people, whose world were falling apart and about finding that someone who you can be comfortable with.

Although I might not be the expert when it comes to films, I confidently say that this might be Cotillard's best performance since La vie en rose, which she won an Oscar for the best actress. As someone who struggles to go on living after a life-altered tragedy, Cotillard didn't have to go over the top, at times, simply one look can make you feel her pain. Do you know that Cotillard is so good at her craft, that Christopher Nolan agreed to postpone filming The Dark Knight Rises so the actress could actually join the cast?

With Cotillard as his co-star, Matthias Schoenaerts was not out-shined. Schoenaerts' performance is raw and very convincing. I believe they have successfully created a new kind of love story, the kind that was vulnerable, real and yet most-easy to believe.

De rouille et d'os has been released as DVD in Europe since last month and that's how I got so lucky to actually watch the movie. However, if you're really into this kind of movie, wait for the Europe on Screen Film Festival, this movie will be one of the selections.

a simple yet subtle separation

A SEPARATION
Director: Asghar Farhadi
Stars: Peyman Moadi, Leila Hatami
Year released: 2011

"What is wrong is wrong, no matter who said it or where it's written."

Never estimate the power of a good script. This movie just proved that it doesn't require much to make a good movie, but a good script and nearly perfect casts. If you notice that the movie does not even have music to manipulate its audience's emotions. A Separation counts on its story line and the casts' perfect performances. 

A Separation begins in a court. Simin who prefers to live aboard with her family so her daughter could have a better life, but Nader, the husband, insists to stay to take care of his father, who suffers Alzheimer. For that, she wants a divorce. One conflict leads to another conflicts which involve another family. I'm not going to tell you the whole story and just ruin it for you. 

I have watched this movie twice since its premier yesterday (28/9). I love how it's made in a very simple yet subtle form. It deals with social, religious issues without over doing it. The story respects its characters so much, that no one comes out in black-white, it's not about good deeds versus bad ones. It's mostly about consequences of one's action. 

I sat there on the cinema without any judgement for any of the characters. I just complied to the movie without my mind be ahead of the story. I didn't guess how it will or should end. The truth is I didn't want to. Like the  story respects the character, I feel that it also respects its audience, in this case, me. Mutually, I respect it back.

I was really surprised that they actually show this movie in cinema and I'm truly glad that I was patient (or busy) enough to not watch it on video. Sadly, somewhere I read that some cinemas even cancelled some showings due to the lack of audience. That Friday night, in Pluit Junction cinema 21, there were only 4 persons watching this great movie and somehow, I felt we were the luckiest four person that night.

They still show A Separation in some cinemas around Jakarta, probably not for long. I hope you get to experience one of 2011's best movies.

oh #residentevil, how far you've gone

RESIDENT EVIL: RETRIBUTION

Director: Paul W.S. Anderson
Stars: Milla Jovovich, Michelle Rodriguez
Year released: 2012

Before I start, let me tell you that I'm a big fan of Milla Jovovich. I always think that she's one of the most beautiful women in the world. I like some of her movies. I even like the first Resident Evil. It has a stable story-line, it might not be the best movie in this zombie genre, but it's quite entertaining.

Resident Evil has evolved since the first movie released 10 years ago. Alice is no longer just the security staff of Umbrella. She has turned into this fashionista heroine in tight black spandex with killer boots. The umbrella cooperation is no longer one big cooperation, apparently it has turned into something that might cause the extinction to human being. Even the zombies evolved. They're not just the living dead who consume human flesh, they has turned into these zombies with flowery mouth who look like a carnivorous plant. In short, it got weird.

So Retribution begins where the last installment left us (which I totally forget, but seriously I didn't miss much. HEHEHE). Gun shooting, planes crashing, people dying, endless supplies of ammunition and somehow Alice was captured and tortured for I don't know why. I'm not even going to ask why, what or how. It's simply useless. 

At times, I felt frustration watching this movie. I felt that Anderson has ran out of tricks, since the last installment, the big kahuna was that James Cameron's 3D camera technology. And for this one, probably sitting in his uncomfortable desk, he thought maybe he could bring back all the old characters from the first RE could fool us all. Seriously, it didn't work and actually it made it even weirder.

Come from the man who watched the whole series of Resident Evil movies and despite so many disappointment, every time a new Resident Evil movie comes out, I always have this hope that it might actually be good or at least better, but unfortunately it has happened yet.

A friend tweeted a couple of nights ago saying that might be another installment to this Resident Evil movies and it might be its last one. I sighed, but then I thought, for the beautiful Ms. Jovovich, I should keep being hopeful, maybe it requires 5 bad ones to make one masterpiece. Fingercrossed, Milla! 

#ModusAnomali is not flawless, but still agreeable

MODUS ANOMALI

Director: Joko Anwar

Stars: Rio Dewanto, Marsha Timothy
Year Released: 2012

Modus Anomali started with a man woke up in the middle of the forest and not able to remember almost everything, include his name. Later, he found that his wife was brutally murdered, pieces of information of the man is and suddenly it became a cat-mouse chase between him and the murderer. 

So we have probably seen the trailer of Modus Anomali since last year's INAFFF, haven't we? Probably some of you have heard about it even long before November last year. First time, I saw the trailer, I seriously rolled my eyes and asked: Why is it in English? Still until today, I consider that as the biggest flaw of Modus Anomali. (BTW, ANOMALI is not an English word).

Now, it's arrived.

I understand Joko Anwar's intention of being playfulness with his audience. How he might soak-up a great deal of pleasure while taking his audience to solve the mystery of the movie. However, although Modus Anomali can be considered fair in as a whole production, in some parts, it looks like it's trying too hard.

Anwar doesn't exactly give us a reason why the psychopath did what he did (to experience a great shot adrenalin is never good enough, #justsaying) although he feels that it's necessary for us to see how he did it. He took at least 15 minutes to explain the whole process and (probably) was hoping the audience had some regrets not paying a good attention to the movie. Unfortunately, many of us are not quite brain-dead yet, so we felt that 15minutes just drenched the whole mystery of the movie. 

Tips for you who haven't seen the movie: avoid sitting next to a row of young girls, they're giggling the whole movie. Seriously annoying. Yes, yes, we know that Rio is a handsome guy.

Probably I'm not in the right chair to compare Modus Anomali to Michael Haneke's works. But anyway, If you remember Funny Games or even The White Ribbon, Haneke didn't bother to explain anything. His movies just show a period of time as an event occurred and that's all. He left his audience to interpret why, how and sometimes he didn't leave an ending to it. 

I strongly believe Modus Anomali should have gone that way. Cut out the last 15 minutes and end the movie while the psychopath got in the car, made that phone call and just drove away. That at least 5 minutes driving scene could have been legendary. It's COLD! It's how a psychopath should be.

Still, I think Modus Anomali is quite agreeable.

Anyway, I'm heading to cinema for #TheAvengers! Exciting! 

hello there, dear void

So today (May 1), we commemorate the national Labor Day, which I myself must admit is quite interesting. Thousands and thousands of people currently are practically taking over Jakarta (Yes, that's me being dramatic). Not the whole the Jakarta, but probably the main business districts in Jakarta. My twitter timeline keep suggesting to avoid Sudirman and Thamrin area.

Anyway, despite the excitement everyone's having downtown, I feel a bit cranky these last few days. Due to that irregular unwanted emotional state of being, I really cannot find any contentment in my daily routines. I also believe I must write a "I'm sorry for being an a-hole" note to a few people at work and my maid at home. 

In case you have watched that movie, You've Got Mail, you'd probably remember there's a scene where Kathleen (that girl played by Meg Ryan) wrote an e-mail about questioning her life and how it might have been if she did or did not do certain thing. Well, I'm probably wearing those same shoes. Yes, maybe I don't have enough of sleep, maybe I'm quite tired or simply bad weather, I really don't know.

I feel a bit useless (I know, you probably are going to scream: again, Alex?). I feel that everything else going in a full speed while I'm a bit stuck. I feel that the first four months of 2012 has just passed by without me achieving anything significant. I don't remember doing anything memorable, neither at work nor everywhere else.

Yes, yes, I know. I have the options of doing or not doing things. I have the options to behave or not to behave certain way. But maybe like Kathleen Kelly, I'm sending this question out into the void without expecting any answers.

So, hello there, dear void! Thank you for listening.

i put my bet on you, michelle williams!

So here we are again, at that peak of the awards season, the big fish, the main event, the 2012 Academy Awards, which should be on tomorrow morning, Jakarta time. I was a bit reluctant to write about this, but well, I've watched almost 60 percent of all the nominated movies, so I think I might own the right to have an opinion. To check all the nomination, please go to Oscars.com.

Actor in a Leading Role

I think it's either George Clooney or Jean Dujardin. They both have won awards in many other festival. If I have to choose, I would go with George Clooney. I've watched the Descendants, I must say that it's Clooney's best dramatic role ever. Although it would be nice to have a french guy speaking a few french words at the Oscar podium.

Actress in a Leading Role

If you ask me two weeks ago, I would definitely go with Viola Davis. But after I finished watching My Week with Marilyn, I definitely want Michelle Williams to win, unfortunately she probably will not. But it will be a good surprise and by the way, she did win the Globe though. Then again, if Michelle does not win, my bet is on Viola Davis. I know everyone keeps saying it's going to be Meryl Streep, but serious I'm not really a big fan of the Iron Lady.

Actor in a Supporting Role

Christopher Plummer. The Academy loves seniority .. and he's captain Von Trapp, anyway. Just give it to the man. He totally deserves it.

Actress in a Supporting Role

This is a very interesting category. Although I'm with everyone when they say Octavia Spencer is going to win it, but I seriously wish that Melissa McCarthy would win the Oscar. It's going to be crazy! You know, if McCarthy wins this category, I would do something crazy! I cannot think of anything right now, but seriously I will do something awesome. Maybe I'll kiss everyone or go to a fancy restaurant or something. Go Melissa!

Best Director

Like you have to ask, Michel Hazanavicius has his name stamped on it.

Best Picture

Nine movies were nominated (strange!) and I've watched 6. The Artist and The Descendants are head to head to win it, but I would love to have Midnight in Paris to actually win the best Picture. Yes, I can dream, can't I? HAHAHA. Well, it's the Artist, then.

If you have any other opinion, please comment. Thanks!

betty white's if you ask me (and of course you won't)

Book: If You Ask Me (And Of Course You Won't)
Author: Betty White
Published: May 2011

A few weeks before the new year, there was this survey on twitter on how many books people read in 2011. There was this young woman who read around 100 books and this other guy who read around 50 books. I was tremendously ashamed of how lazy I was that year. I seriously am ashamed even to write this post, for I didn't finish reading any books for the whole year, not even one.

So I decided that this year I should read more. I should commit to at least read more book (more than none. HAHAHA). So the first book of the year is Betty White's If You Ask Me (And Of Course You Won't). Published in May 2011, I had a hunch that this one is a perfect kick-off and I was right. It's light, it's funny, it's honest, it made me laugh and in many chapter, Betty talks a lot about aging (New Year, du'uh!).

You can actually get away with anything when you're 89 years old. You can say anything, you can do anything and you can actually laugh at anything. I'm positively sure that no one will be offended. You have that privilege once you reach certain age. Betty White certainly knows this advantage and uses  the most out of it.

Fortunate for us, that Betty White has a kind heart and a good sense of humor. If You Ask Me manages to not be a book about trashy gossips, but it only puts a little of that essence to it. It cleverly plays facts regarding movie stars without implying of making any bad judgement. It's sophisticated in the most simple way possible.

She talks a lot about her new television gigs include Hot in Cleveland, hosting SNL and Super Bowl commercial. She mentions a lot of famous names from a wide range of generation without any consideration of being offensive. The way they're mentioned, it makes you think what a wonderful person she must be.

One of the chapter that made me giggle a lot was when she disclosed her admiration towards Robert Redford after watching Out of Africa and how Redford sent her a poem when she won a SAG this year, which she unapologetically chose not to share what he wrote for her. Good for Betty!

I also enjoy how she tells her personal stories. The warmth, the closeness, her passion, the amazing relationship she shared with her husband, her parents and her love for nature touch me. While reading this funny memoir, I at many points could see how humble she is and came to this understanding maybe these are the key ingredients to be successful in everything we do in life, be humble and be passionate.

Betty White, for the truest it can be (it is), you are the queen and we are your people. God bless the queen.

For my next reading "assignment", I have Diane Keaton's Then Again, Pride and Prejudice and Zombie (I know!) and PD James' Death Comes to Pemberley. Exciting!

how i don't really hate breaking dawn

TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN PART I
Director: Bill Condon

Stars: Kristen Stewart, Taylor Lautner, Robert Pantinson
Year Released: 2011

I was staring at my computer screen for 30 minute before I began to type the first word regarding the experience I had last Saturday watching the first part of last book from Twilight Saga, Breaking Dawn. Before I watched the film, I talked to some friends about it. Like there's a memo I didn't receive, everyone unified to trash the movie. And when I asked whether they've seen the film, most of them said no.

So I decided if I was going to hate it (or trash it), at least I needed to watch the film to earn that right. So there I was last Saturday, watching on the big screen how Edward Cullen married Bella Swan, knocked her up and made her go through hell (kids, appreciate your mother now!) to deliver a baby.

You know, before a movie (a big Hollywood movie anyway) is released, usually there are people who try to sell the movies by creating hypes surrounding that movie which lead us to believe that movie is actually good.  Some movies are as good as expected, some in other hands fail.

In this case, I heard nothing about Breaking Dawn but how terrible the movie is. I did call New Moon a stupidity and seriously I cannot even remember what happened in Eclipse. With that in the back my head, I assumed Breaking Dawn would be as bad as the previous ones. The key words: I expect nothing but another stupidity.

And I was not completely right.

Yes, the movie is still terrible, but I don't hate it. I can see all the flaws, unnecessary scenes here and there, but I wasn't really bothered. It's cheesy, tacky and occasionally causing pharyngeal-reflex, but those were expected and I'm okay. There's the logical reason why I didn't leave the cinema before the movie ended. I even stayed until the last scene when Michael Sheen looks like a clown. HAHAHA.

I'm so into making a list, so it would be only proper if I make a list of interesting facts regarding Breaking Dawn. It could be straight facts, or indirect related facts or even simply unrelated facts. HAHAHA.

1. They had to cut down some scene just to get a PG-13 rating (initially the movie received an R rating), so some teenage girls could giggle when the barely legal Taylor Lautner took of his shirt. HAHAHA.
2. It's pointless to even try to figure out how it's possible for a vampire to inseminate. Even the writer(s) is too lazy to explain it. 
3. The first and the most important rule of surviving the horror of the Twilight Saga: never sit next to a bunch of teenage girls. Their giggles just kill whatever left inside of you to continue watching the movie.
4. I was very surprised to know that Bella actually is a fan of S&M. But again, what's pleasure without pain? HAHA.
5. Is there any better beverage than Red Fanta? I don't think so. Blood. Vampire. Red Fanta. Du'uh!

So, to end my post, I would answer the most significant question everyone probably has in mind right now. Will I recommend this movie? Well, I can only say this: if you wish to say how the movie has caused you a traumatic experience in movie-watching, you need to earn the right by actually watching it.

9 things about inafff and 10 things to learn from the movies

Today was the last day of the 2011 INAFFF and I am officially not a INAFFF virgin anymore. For the last two weeks, I had a pretty good time. I enjoyed my own selection, which even I must admit it's not bad for a first-timer. Overall, the movies this year are not disappointed. Some of them are exceptional, some of them are okay and yes, some of them are not even supposed in this festival. 

However, to appreciate how awesome these two weeks were, I decided to point out things either they're related to the movies, events occurred during the festival or almost unrelated, but worth mentioned. HAHAHA.

1. Immortals might not be a good film, but it's a perfect way to commence a film festival. It's grand, it's graphically gory and it involves Greek mythology. 
2. Audience of each movie are expected to participate in choosing their favorite movies. We received this very effective card which was collected by the end of the movie according to our taste. If you like it, rip off the one side that expressed your likeness. 
3. Most of the movies I chose unfortunately were not as gory as I thought they would be. I totally couldn't believe that Livid was actually from Julien Maury and Alexandre Bustillo who basically grossed us out with Inside.
4. Thumbs up for the committee who was working so hard to please their die-hard fans. The gifts during each screening, some of the committee were so friendly enough to personally greet me in some occasions anyway are just proofs how committed they are. So I must mention that they did a very good job.
5. The surprise movie, A Lonely Place to Die was not what I had in mind. I mean it's a good movie (well, half of it anyway), but it doesn't really represent the core of the festival. I was hoping for something extremely sick or gory.
6. Age restriction. I was surprised to see probably a 12 years old kid who watched one of the movies. 
7. Although Breaking Dawn premiered in the second week of INAFFF, but I don't think it was affected in any way, so I must say INAFFF owns tons of die hard fans.
8. Our local movies got a lot of attention this year. The Raid was definitely one of them and those short movies are quite a hit. So I'm pretty happy and pretty ashamed to admit that I didn't watch any of those. HAHAHA. I know, I'm a total loser!
9. In my very humble personal opinion, Fanta Merah is the perfect option of beverage for this event and I was excited that they actually served this specific drink at the cinema snack counter. So, I'm happy!

You can always learn something from a movie, no matter what kind of movies they are. From watching more-less 10 movies at the festival, I learned these important 10 lessons which I will carry for the rest of my life.

1. Take a plane, no road trips unless it's less than 8 hours ride. You never know some psychopaths might stop you by dressing as the authorities (Territories), which leads us to number 2.
2. Always ask for a validation if some authorities stop your vehicle in the middle of nowhere. 
3. Always make sure you know exactly what you're digesting when you're dining out. Even if it's good, I don't think I want to consume literally well-cooked men, even they're jackasses (The Claypot Curry Killers).
4. Say NO to a risky job and go for that Burger King waiter even it pays less. Being a hit-man for a certain satanic cult which you're going to be the leader is one terrible thing. I'd rather be poor. (The Kill List).
5. Combination of a bad sport: mountain-hiking, a remote quiet place, less than 5 persons to do the sport with. If you're really for a mountain-hiking, make sure they have a Starbucks nearby and you're going with at least 3 dozens people. (A Lonely Place to Die).
6. If you must work in an asylum for extreme-mentally ill people, make sure they have a back-up generator. If you do work in a such place and you read this, I salute you! (The Incident).
7. Don't judge, even the saints can be sinners. (Le Moine)
8. There's a reason why absinthe is illegal. (Sennentuntschi)
9. Don't steal from an old woman in coma who rests in a very old house. (Livid).
10. Last but not least, do not mess with Iko Uwais. That man can kick ass. (You know which movie, don't you?).

HAHAHA.

So, like I said before, I had a good time this year and I'm so looking forward to having more terrifying - grossing me out kind of experiences next year. I thank some cool people I did get a chance to talk to for these two weeks and also you, the girl who sat next to me during the surprise movie, next time less talking while watching a movie, okay? 

how the year ends with good movies

Long time ago, I was introduced to a boy named Nandy. Nandy is a bored accountant whose dream is to be a movie critic. Nandy loves movies. From a very small number of our encounter, Nandy said that the last four months of the year are his favorites. Not fully agree to his opinion, but I understand why the Fall/Winter are his favorite seasons.

In Hollywood, January & February are the months of the awards. All the "important" awards are scheduled on those two months. So for all movies that want to be considered for the awards season of the year, they have to be released before the previous year ends. So let's say for the Oscar 2012, all movies must be released before 2011 ends. Well, I could be wrong about this (probably about the timeline), but then that's why the last four months become Nandy's favorites. For this year and the first two months of next year, I have so many movies I'm hoping to see (at least in the big screen). Most of the opinions here are collected from movie resources, such as: imdb.com, rottentomatoes.com, and many others.

SHAME

Director: Steve McQueen

Stars: Michael Fassbender, Carey Mulligan

Why must we not miss this movie? Two words, my friends! Michael, that's one and Fassbender! Undeniably that Fassbender is the actor of the moment right now. He already had a couple of awesome movies released this year, X-Men First Class and Jane Eyre. This NC-17 rated movie (which means only adults are allowed to watch the movies) talks about a compulsive sex addiction. Shame will be released in December, but before that another Fassbender's movie, A Dangerous Method will be released in November.

MARTHA MARCY MAY MARLENE

Director: Sean Durkin

Stars: Elizabeth Orsen, Christopher Abbott

This is a playing-with-your-mind drama thriller with some first class acting. It was said that Elizabeth Orsen gave the best performance of the year and there's no way she's not getting any Oscar nomination.

WEEKEND

Director: Andrew Haigh

Stars: Tom Cullen, Chris New

It has been hailed by critics when it was showed in Sundance this year. I was also intrigued by Jim Ridley when he commented Weekend as this countdown to farewell romance that will stay with you, may break your heart a little bit and shouldn't be missed. The Antlers singing I Don't Want Love in the movie trailer also helps a little bit to raise my interest. It's going to be a very sad movie. 

MY WEEK WITH MARILYN

Director: Simon Curtis

Stars: Michelle Williams, Eddie Redmayne, Kenneth Branagh, Judi Dench

The first time everyone saw the official photo of Michelle Williams posing as Marilyn Monroe, I believe everyone thought of Oscar! Well, maybe some of us, maybe just me and socialitenews.com. But seriously, Michelle Williams has transformed to be an amazing actress. I still cannot get over her powerful performance on Blue Valentine and I think she's going to kill it with this one as well.

THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN

Director: Steven Spielberg 

Stars: Jamie Bell, Simon Pegg

I used to read the comics and I must not miss this movie, that's all I can say. Although Spielberg's last movie, the Indiana Jones was a huge disappointment, I have my fingers crossed on this one. 

CHRONICLE

Director: Joshua Tank

Stars: Alex Russel, Michael B. Jordan

The trailer doesn't speak much, but it reminds me of the mystery of one of my favorite movies, Cloverfield. It also actually has the same exact way how the movie was shot. From what I know, these there teenagers were exposed to a strange substance that gave them power. That's all I know. Unfortunately we have to wait until next year to know what it's really about.

LIKE CRAZY

Director: Drake Doramus

Stars: Anton Yelchin, Felicity Jones

About that first love, about being apart from it, about constantly thinking about it when you're already with somebody else. Does it sound like your love life? Well, this year's Sundance Grand Jury Prize winner will explore that how love depicts the hopefulness and the heart-wrench of love.

TYRANNOSAUR

Director: Paddy Considine

Stars: Peter Mullen, Olivia Colman

I always enjoy watching movies that involve two different persons, such as Tyrannosaur. Winner of various awards in the Sundance Film Festival and it has been hailed as this year's British best film, surely it should not be missed.

W.E

Director: Madonna

Stars: Abbie Cornish, James D'Arcy

When it was screened at this year's Venice Film Festival, not everyone thrilled with Madonna's attempt to direct. W.E. received mixed reviews. Many hate the movie, but those who actually love it, praise it.

WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN

Director: Lynne Ramsey

Stars: Tilda Swinton, John C. Reilly

Again, two words: Tilda, that's one and Swinton! Another psychology thriller, but then again, anything associate with Tilda Swinton, it must be a first class acting movie, includes this one. 

I didn't have much time to mention every movie, but there are other movies that I really want to mention, such as Roman Polanski's Carnage with Jodie Foster and Kate Winslett, The Descendants and Ides of March with George Clooney. What a happy season for movies! 

ready to scream at the iNAFFF 2011

So finally the Indonesia International Fantastic Film Festival 2011 (or iNAFFF) is here and if you have no idea what iNAFFF is, don't worry, this is my first time to attend the film festival too. So yes, I'm a iNAFFF virgin. In the past, I wasn't interested enough to attend the festival mostly because the films are mostly gory and violent. Okay, I admit it, I was afraid I'm going to scream like a little girl in public. Not a pretty scene.

This year,  iNAFFF 2011 will be in Blitz - Grand Indonesia from 11 - 20 November 2011. But I think the ticket sale will be available a week before the 11. I don't know much about the festival, they have this website, if you want to know more about them. 

However, since my last film festival (the French Film Festival), I assume it's time for me to attend another one. I decided to google all the movies and filtered a few that I really want to see. Since I love sharing, so here they are, movies that I think worth watching (or simply because I have a weird taste):

1. Immortals - a Hollywood Blockbuster-esque with myths and Greek Gods. It might hurt my eyes and ears, but hell, I'm so watching this one
2. The Disappeared - UK has produced many good sci-fi/horror movies lately, remember Attack the Block. Hopefully this one won't DISappoint (get the DIS joke?).
3. The Claypot Curry Killers - it's about food and mystery. Good enough to watch!
4. Territories - a made-by-French movie, it's a bit Hostel-esque, but we'll see.
5. Kill List - everyone keeps saying how good this movie is. I'm hoping to be able to see this one.
6. Angels and Airwaves present LOVE - the only sci-fi movie, I think. A bit disappointed that not too many sci-fi movies this year.
7. Le Moine - a french movie which deals with Christianity, so I assume this one would be quite dark
8. Sennentuntschi - at first, I wasn't sure about this one, but I decided to give it a shot, since it was in the same day with the movie I really want to watch
9. Livid - another french movie which I cannot find the trailer, but I found the comments from other people who have seen the movie. They all said it's super-gory and super good.

Other movies that I really wish I could watch but due to my busy schedule (halah!), I might just have to wait for the DVDs: The Bell Flower, Super and Retreat.

Hey, if you happen to be in the iNAFFF, make sure you say hello. 

save the date, bridesmaids rocks!

BRIDESMAIDS
Director: Paul Feig
Stars: Kristin Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Rose Byrne, Melissa McCarthy
Year Released: 2011

Before I started commenting how I feel about the movie, I just want to say that Bridesmaids just had just the best new answer to the "how are you doing?" question. When Lilian was asked by Annie that question after a fiasco at the bridesmaids dress-fitting, she answered, "I just crapped at my wedding dress." That's how you know this movie ROCKS! Girls can actually go mad and boy, they went all the way!

When her childhood friend, Lilian was engage, Annie was asked to be the maid of honor. Annie, who failed at her cake-making business and always seem to choose the wrong guys to date - knowing exactly nothing, she agreed to carry on the heavy duty which ends up in many hilarious events. Especially after being introduced to Lilian's other friend, Helen, suddenly the war of the bridesmaids was on. The other bridesmaids however didn't help much, but making more and more hilariousness. 

In the end, Wilson Phillips sings Hold On and everything just fell into places perfectly.

Bridesmaids shows everything nasty one probably had done in life but not really proud of (crapping at a wedding dress or even in a sink for example). It also had that nineties culture reference that probably tickles us who lived through that era as a teenager (well, at least for me), like Wilson Phillips, Tom Hanks in Cast Away.

And talking about the movie character, Annie is the person I always wish that I would never be, but she is also the person I want to be friends with. Kristin Wiig, who wrote and co-produced the movie had done an amazing job, she is "the new improved - cost efficient - everyone can related to" Tina Fey. In an interview, Wiig mentioned that before shooting the film, everyone got together and improvised how the chemistry of the relationship should be and many of the scenes in film are the result.

Others shines too. Maya Rudolph, Rose Byrne, Melisa McCarthy, Matt Lucas, even the always serious Mad Men star, Jon Hamm successfully makes me laugh. All these women are real comedians, even Rose Byrne who was always more a dramatic actress. I just bought the DVD and I'm not embarrassed to post the information that I have watched this film 4 times now and I probably am going to watch it again. So if you're looking to laugh your ass off, I so recommend this movie. 

how actually mila wins and justin can act

FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS
Director: Will Gluck
Stars: Justin Timberlake, Mila Kurnis
Year Released: 2011

Basically it's about these two persons met at a single occasion and became friends. Then one night, they decided to be sex-buddies, exactly like that other movie with Natalie Portman and Ashton Kutcher which was released earlier this year. Then like many other things in life, the non-relationship became more complicated and they fell in love with each other, well sort of anyway.

It's quite brave to release two movies with a same idea, but Hollywood has done it before (remember Dante's Peak and Volcano? Deep Impact and Armageddon?). And you can imagine how skeptical I was when I was about to watch this movie after a big disappointment from the other version (you know, the one with Portman and Kutcher).

But I was wrong. Friends with Benefits is funny, charming and much better than the other version (again, you know which). Although it's trying so hard to differ itself from many other rom-coms, it actually works as one, maybe this is the 21st century rom-com. Will Gluck only directed a very few movies and I must admit I've been his fan for the last two movies he made, this one and Easy A.

Kurnis and Timberlakes work really well. I can see/smell/feel the chemistry. Subjectively I never like Justin Timberlake. I still believe that he was the weakest link in that David Fincher's The Social Network, but I must admit, that dude is a pretty good actor. And Mila, sweet lips Mila, oh girl, you made the right choice. I'm so glad you didn't go with that lame PG-13 version with Ashton. Natalie might have her Oscar, but Mila honey you have a much better follow-up. HAHAHA.

The other supporting casts are not disappointed. Woody Harrelson is always a good comedic actor, Jenna Elfman, even a very tiny role of Emma Stone colors the movie. Probably the only disappointment would be Patricia Clark. In my mind, Patricia is always this elegant lady, even she plays a house wife (Easy A!), but as a bohemian mom, she kind of misses it. 

And oh boy, did I mention that Friends with Benefits has many of the best pop songs as its soundtrack? Let me start with that Boys Don't Cry from the Cure (the movie version was rerecorded by Grant Lee Phillips, still a good song), Semisonic's Closing Time, Rogue Wave and many others.

Last reason why it's good: it was shot in New York. Period. 

movie: the white ribbon

THE WHITE RIBBON

Director: Michael Haneke

Release Year: 2009

"I gave God a chance to kill me, and He didn't do it"
Martin, the White Ribbon

The White Ribbon tells a story of mysterious events that took place in a small village in the northern part of German. Narrated by a tailor, the story occurred around 15 months before the first world war. At that, he was a young school teacher.

Haneke (the writer) hardly named all the characters. They were mentioned as the Baron, the Teacher, the Priest, the Farmer, the Doctor or the Steward. The village, where crimes were committed without consequences. Haneke never reveals who was (were) behind all these crimes. Although at some occasions, names were mentioned, lines were drawn, but Haneke still leaves it to his audience to believe what they want to believe.

As he was trying to tell us that it doesn't matter who did it, but the idea that the crimes were committed in a small village without punishment. The community leaders of the village , the Baron and the Priest, seem failed to solve the matter. Their authority, seems to be evoked by what are important to our society, the Baron for his fortune and the Priest for he speaks in the name of God.

The White Ribbon was shot in color then altered during the post-production to black/white images. Not only it works, it's also brilliant. The White Ribbon is like watching a horror movie without any scary creatures. At each scene, I was waiting for something terrible to happen and when it didn't, I was super-glad. The real stars in this movie were the children. They made the Children of the Corn look like a group of toddlers. The movie and its setting reminds me of the Little House of Prairie, actually a twisted version.

I read so much about Haneke and his movies. Unfortunately, his movies were not easy to find. I was lucky to be able to watch this one. Haneke's movies are never about reasons. I don't get to ask why something occurred, but how the characters react, that makes the movies interesting. Maybe Haneke tries to tell us that (in his movies) tragedy and misery do exist.

His previous one, The Funny Game with Naomi Watts tells a story of young family was brutally murdered for no reason. The murders had no previous knowledge about the family and it's just a random act. This movie had successfully made me check my door every night before I go to bed ... until now.

movie: salt

SALT
Director: Phillip Noyce
Cast: Angelina Jolie
Release Year: 2010, July

Angelina Jolie undeniably is a very attractive woman. I believe Phillip Noyce think so too. Too attractive (she is), that he failed to escape the typical B-list action movies by not editing the unnecessary scenes that indicate only one thing, Jolie kicks ass.

Salt is a CIA agent who was actually a Russian spy (again, really?) that was raised to attack America. Unfortunately, people change and so did Salt. Once trained to be a cold-hearted killer, she deviated for a cause that makes the world turn around, love. (I'm seriously trying to be sweet here!).

I wish at several scenes, Salt paid more attentions to the story line. It has so many potentials to be much better. Anyway, do you know that initially Salt was written as a man and it was meant for Tom Cruise? Cruise declined the role and go for Knight and Day instead (see how that one went down?). They rewrote the whole story, changed the sex of the character and Jolie's in.

Honestly, I might skip the movie if it was Cruise's. HAHAHA. So, good trade, I say.

The funny thing is a month ago, a so-called Russian spy, named Anna Chapman was arrested and deported back to Russian. Although I don't think Chapman and Salt have anything in common in any matters beside they're both born in Russia. However, the news gave great publicity to the movie. Jolie was in Russia to promote Salt and she was irresistibly welcomed.

Parental warning:
I do not suggest you to bring your child with you to watch this movie. Beside they're probably too young to know who Angelina Jolie is, the movie centers on revenge and it's actually quite violent.

movies at the french cinema festival 2010

Micmacs à tire-larigot
Director: Jean-Pierre Jeunet
Cast: Dany Boon, Dominique Pinon
Release Year: 2009
-

Micmacs tells a story of an man named Brazil, whose father was killed by a roadside bomb. Brazil, himself has a bullet inside his scalp due to a shooting incident that happened at his work place. After being released from the surgery, Brazil lives with a group of people in a dumpster, whom then become his allies in sabotaging the people who are responsible for the death of his father and the bullet planted in his scalp.

A slapstick without a proper handling can be tacky and disastrous, but Micmacs (which is one) in the hand of Jeunet is brilliant and Boon reminds me of Chaplin. Micmacs may not elusively fit to those who need to know exactly why or how, but it's a treat to my senses.