Paris, Je T'aime

Paris...Je T'aime Paris...

You have to see this movie if you believe in love. 18 stories of people falling in love under the Parisian skies. The movie is exciting, weird, funny, sad, and uplifting...sigh...I need to find me a soul mate...

Here is the trailer:

The Other Boleyn Girl: Review

I watched The Other Boleyn Girl after reading Philipa Georgey's wonderful novel with the same title. When the movie ended, I left the theater with mixed feelings. As usual, the novel surpassed the movie with its rich details, vivid portrays of the intrigues of the royal court, and smart dialogues. The movie, on the other hand, crammed the story into a two-hour summary with some major changes in the plot which I am going to point out next.

Warning- spoilers:

The Other Boleyn Girl is about king Henry VIII who was happily married to his Spanish queen, Catherine of Aragon, except for one problem: she could not bear children anymore. As time passed, the king became anxious because he did not have a male heir to the throne.

In the movie, the two Boleyn girls, Mary and Anne were living in the country when they met king Henry for the first time. In the novel, Mary was actually one of royal court ladies serving queen Catherine, and Anne was in the French court serving the French queen.

In the movie, the king noticed Anne first which was not exactly what happened. The king became infatuated with Mary at the beginning. Her power-hungry family jumped at this golden opportunity and encouraged her to lay with the king hoping that she would give him the much- desired male heir.

In the movie, Mary became pregnant, and gave the king a son. In the story, she became pregnant twice and gave birth to a daughter and a son. Everything seemed to work according to plan until the king became dazzled by Anne, a fresh face who joined the British court from France to find herself a husband. Anne with her French sophistication, wit, and charm succeeded in diverting the king's attention. The king could have married Mary and declared her bastard son a legitimate heir, but Anne convinced him that she would give him the son he desired if he married her. The Boleyns did not falter at this change of events as long as one of the Boleyn girls was doing the job.

To be able to divorce his dignified queen and marry Anne, Henry separated himself from the church of England. In an ironic twist of fate, Anne failed to give birth to a boy after becoming a queen herself. The king grew tired of her eventually. Irked by his people's disapproval of Anne and his separation from the church, he wanted to get rid of her. Henry charged Anne with adultery, treason, and incest. Anne was found guilty and was beheaded.

The movie was good, but it had its flaws. Eric Bana was not a great choice for king Henry. I think he is a great actor, but his energy was not channeled correctly for this role. The movie felt disconnected at times, and some events were rushed.

Natalie Portman (Anne) and Scarlett Johansson (Mary) were magnificent. One of the best scenes in the movie was the beheading scene. The way Portman reacted in horror after realizing that she would not be pardoned from the death sentence was amazing.

Here is the trailer of The Other Boleyn Girl:

End of Summer

End of Summer is a beautifully animated short film made by Patrick Harboun, Ronan Le Fur, and Joaquim Montserrat who worked on it for 6 months within their studies at Supinfocom, a French CG animation school. The story is very simple, but it's the mood and feel of the film that give it its beauty. The film should not be compared to big-budget animated films because it was done by the animators while they were still in school.

You can visit the website of the film here.

Succar Ya Nas

Finally, I was able to see Succar Banat (Caramel) here in Los Angeles. I went to its premier today with an open mind and no expectations. I was pleasantly greeted with a movie that gently opened my eyes to the streets of Beirut. The movie had a warmth about it that melted the walls surrounding the tender spots of my heart. Caramel is the story of everyone of us. It is that cup of tea brimming with pure laughter and real tears. It is the mirror of our battles. It is the unforgiven clash of our dreams and fears.

I fell in love with the music which was one of the highlights of the movie. I fell in love with the voice of Rasha Rizk who graced the score of the talented Khaled Mouzanar.

Here is Rasha Rizk singing " Succar Ya Banat":

Cloverfield: Nausea 101

Ahhh...Don't you love movies that make you sick? Behold Cloverfield. Watching the much talked-about movie was like taking an introductory course in nausea. Don't get me wrong, the movie is interesting, and it has great elements of suspense and thrill, but you have to have a stomach of steel to be able to go through it. When I walked to the window to buy the tickets, the cashier pointed to a paper on the glass window. It read "Cloverfield can cause dizziness." I was like "Bah." I thought they were exaggerating. We went inside the theater and chatted while the commercials played.

The movie started, and it took me full five minutes to realize that I was watching the feature film and not another commercial preview. The scenes appeared on the screen so fast that I had little time to follow what was happening. The whole movie was made to look like it was shot using a regular video camera. Why the director decided to apply such an amateur style is beyond me. The story is about a group of young people who surprised one of their friends with a farewell party. One of the characters decided to film the whole party and give it to the departing person as a token of remembrance. The character who was "filming" the movie kept running, swinging, and dropping the camera which had a terrific effect on my stomach.

Thirty minutes into the movie, and I started developing a sinus pressure that turned into a terrible headache. After ten minutes, I became dizzy and nauseous. Another ten minutes, and I could not take it anymore. I picked my purse and stepped outside the theater. I stood for a minute breathing fresh night air when I noticed that two of my friends had already left and were leaning on the wall trying hard not to throw up:

Friend1: You gotta be kidding me. What was that?
Friend2: I don't know, but I know I am going to pass out any minute now.

One by one, the rest of my friends and other people staggered out of the theater, and it was hilarious to see the reaction on their faces:

Friend3: I feel so sick.
Friend4 (Making gagging noises): Who wants to eat?
Friend5 was breathing heavily and holding her head.

No Country for Old Men: Review

Simply put, Cormac McCarthy is a living legend among the authors of our time. He is a man that writes with passion, but he never treads gently in the process. His words have a dark quality about them that is both beautiful and unforgiving. I am still haunted by his latest novel, The Road, that I read months ago.

When I watched the trailer of No Country for Old Men, I became immensely excited. Why? Because it is based on one of McCarthy's masterpieces, and it is deftly directed by no other than the Coen Brothers. After watching the film, I can safely say that it is the best film of 2007.

The story is about Llewelyn Moss (Josh Brolin), an average guy who stumbles on a bag of two million dollars in a murder scene out in the desert. He gets tempted and decides to take the money. Little did he know that two sides will move fast to track him and claim that bag of cash at any cost. Then, all hell breaks loose, and the thrilling ride begins. The star of the film is Anton Chigurh (Javier Bardem), a psychopath who represents one of the two parties pursuing Moss. He is one of the scariest characters I've seen in a long time. You will be fascinated by what he does in order to bring the money back.

The film is deeply satisfying on many levels. The actors did a superb job, and the cinematography is amazing. There are moments in the film that will send shivers up and down your spine, and will make the hair on the back of your neck stands.

If you haven't watched the film yet, go watch it.

Atonement

When I read the last paragraph of Atonement, I exhaled deeply to clear my mind. It was like waking up from a heavy, troubling dream. The tone of the novel was set the moment I turned the first page, and it started building up till it took hold of my nerves and frayed them. Atonement is truly a masterpiece in its depth and study of the human nature. It is about life and making choices that can affect all the people around us. The author, Ian McEwan, is frighteningly accurate in his analysis of the human spirit. I've never read a novel that portrays the inner twists and turns that inhibit that thoughts of everyone of us so vividly.

The story is about Briony, a privileged young girl with a creative mind and a unique view of the world surrounding her. On a hot summer day, she witnesses a scene between her older sister, Cecila, and the son of their gardener, Robbie, in front of the big fountain that adorns the mansion they live in. Briony does not understand what has passed between the young couple. Fueled by anxiety and misunderstanding, she secretly reads a private letter that Robbie sends to Cecilia. When she comes across the couple in the library and sees something that her innocent mind can not comprehend, her reasoning breaks. Then a terrible crime takes place, and Briony points her accusing finger at Robbie which starts a rippling effect that will destroy the life of two people forever.
A highly recommended and enjoyable book. An unapologetic and seething account of war, love, hope, and atonement. Atonement has been made into a movie that is playing now in the US. I've waited until I finished the book, and now I am very excited to go and see it. Here is the trailer:

Once

I finally got the chance to see Once. I had to wait for it to come out on DVD because I could not find it in any of the theaters around my house. Simply put, Once is one of the best movies I've watched in a very long time. It is a beautiful movie with very realistic and touching moments. It does not insult the intelligence of viewers like other movies do. It easily engages you in the everyday struggles and hopes of the protagonists. Once is not your type of a Hollywood blockbuster; it is a low-budget, Irish musical that will surely leave a sweet taste in your mouth.

Without disclosing too much details, the movie evolves around the world of two people who randomly meet one night in the streets of Dublin. A guy and a girl (we don't even get to know their names which I found very endearing) bond over music. They guy (Glen Hansel) is a struggling musician who earns his living by fixing carpet cleaners in the morning and singing in the streets in the evenings. The girl (Marketa Irglova) tries to make ends meet by working two jobs to support her mother and baby daughter. Through a lovely encounter, the girl, who likes music and knows how to play piano, agrees to help the guy put his songs into a record. The story goes on from there.

One of the best highlights in the movie is the music. It is true, rugged, and heartfelt. Hansel, the seasoned leader of one of my favorite bands, The Frames, and Irglova did a terrific job singing some of the most inspiring songs I've ever heard.

The movie has a harsh and sad feel about it, specially with the scenes in the dreary streets or the gloomy rooms. I rarely cry when I watch movies, but to my great surprise, I had to fight tears through some of the scenes. It also has its charming and captivating moments that will make you laugh. The Irish accent can be a bit hard to follow; nevertheless, it adds charm to the movie.

Definitely one of the top 10 movies this year. Here is the trailer:

My Favorite Things

I developed my passion for movies when I watched The Sound of Music for the first time. I was 9 years old and very inquisitive about everything around me. I remember how my parents gathered me and my 6 years old brother one evening to watch it. I instantly fell in love with the music, the Austrian nature, and the fun songs. My eyes were glued to the screen following every movement and every spoken word. The film went by in a blink of an eye, and I was left with a childish awe. I became oblivious to everything, and I spent the rest of the day reliving every moment of the film. I imagined myself running on the green hills, singing the silly songs, and playing along with the kids.



Of all the songs in the film, My Favorite Things stayed with me till this day. I smile every time I remember it. Whenever I am stressed out or sad, I hum the corny lyrics to make things light.

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens
Brown paper packages tied up with strings
These are a few of my favorite things

Cream colored ponies and crisp apple streudels
Doorbells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles
Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings
These are a few of my favorite things

Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes
Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes
Silver white winters that melt into springs
These are a few of my favorite things

When the dog bites
When the bee stings
When I'm feeling saaaad
I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don't feel soooo baaaad

Now FanaticPromotion posted a video on YouTube by Negativeland that butchered the song; nevertheless, it produced a hilarious version of it.

The Sound of Music is based on The Story of the Trapp Family Singers. There is a very interesting article, The Real Story of the Trapp Family by Joan Gearin, that discusses the fiction and the reality between the original story and the movie.

His story through a blink of an eye

Live life, and live it to the fullest. Put your hand on that invisible, aching spot in your heart and forget. Forgive and forget.

This is the story of Jean-Dominique Bauby (April 1952 - March 9, 1997), a French journalist and editor of Elle magazine. When he was 43 years old, Bauby suffered a massive brain stem stroke that left his mind and left eye as the only functioning parts of his body. After a long comma, Bauby woke up to find himself locked up in a paralyzed body where he can't do anything but grunt and blink his left eyelid. Through that impossible situation, Bauby was able to write a book called The diving Bell and the Butterfly by blinking when the correct letter was read by a person reciting the alphabets repeatedly. The book became an amazing journey of self-discovery, courage, imagination, love, and humor. Bauby died two days after his book was published.

Scaphandre et le Papillon or The diving Bell and the Butterfly is a movie based on Bauby's memoir book. It is opening today in the United States, and I can't wait to watch it. The movie won best director award in Cannes festival. Here is the trailer:

Enchanted

I watched Enchanted yesterday, and I was pleasantly surprised. It left me with a sweet, gooey feeling about love, happiness, and hope. The movie challenges the modern views of relationships and gives a new meaning to the term "happily ever after." Enchanted is packed with music, humor, and romance, and it is a great treat for all family members. Amy Adams did a terrific job playing the fairly-tale princess. I loved her performance in Junebug, and she did not disappoint in this one too. If you need a break from a stressful week, go watch Enchanted. Even if you are not a hopeless romantic or an avid dreamer, Enchanted will make you smile. You can see the trailer here.