Changeling (2008)

Cast : Angelina Jolie, John Malkovich, Jason Butler Harner, Michael Kelly
Director : Clint Eastwood

Clint Eastwood just added another impressive work thru his filmography. Although i'm not a big fan of his works (except Mystic River!), i have to admit that i got such a thrill while watching this.
Base on a true story, Changeling tells about Christine Collins, a single mother who lost her beloved 9 year old son, Walter. Until 5 months later, the LAPD claimed that Walter has been found. However Christine began to suspect that the boy returned to her is not hers.

Little issue i got regarding a story-telling plot while Eastwood trying to reveal this Gordon Northcott character which only told after first half of the movie. In the first part, i've been spoiled by being offered to watch only how Christine struggle to find her son. I found this Northcott is a very interesting character who should have been told earlier. I do love the last scene while he's about to being hang by the neck. Kinda reminds me of Dancer in the Dark scene, while Selma Jezkova mentioning 103 steps, while as Northcott got 13 steps. Not to mention the song 'Silent night' he sang which also reflect to Selma's 'This isn't the Last Song'.

No doubt that Angelina Jolie is a very fine actress. She delivers a remarkable performance by portraying Christine Collins, a single mother who just lost her son. However i kinda seen her before in the almost-same character in A Mighty Heart who also require her to portray as a wife who lost her husband. Outstanding performance. But nothing new.

Having said that, i still respect that this movie belongs to one of masterpiece from Clint Eastwood and deserve to be one contender in the Academy arena.

Lars and the Real Girl (2007)

Cast : Ryan Gossling, Emily Mortimer, Patricia Clarkson
Director : Craig Gillespie

The script. It's the most extraordinary thing from this film. It's surprising me alot (and i love being surprised!) with its remarkably original. Thanks to Nancy Oliver.
If someone said that this movie tells about a man falling in love with a sex doll, well for me it's much much more than that. It's the journey of the emotional moment. Mixed-up emotion. It's the thing that i always earn from a good movie. And so this movie treated me. It's like i am within laugh and cry, funny and sad. Very gently moving.

Fully aware that Ryan Gosling is a very fine actor. As Lars Landstorm, who wounded by the pain of losing his parents and literally frightened by human touch, he did an astounding job. For sure.
Anyway, I also heart Emily Mortimer & Patricia Clarkson here. *claps claps claps*

Good movie that you guys should check.
Anyway, the real-doll website is truly exist. Come check it out also. LOL!

Memorable Quote :
"See they're even fake so they'll never die"
(Lars Landstorm)

"Sometimes I get so lonely I forget what day it is, and how to spell my name"
(Doctor Dagmar)

Frost/Nixon (2008)

Cast : Michael Sheen, Frank Langella, Kevin Bacon, Sam Rockwell, Rebecca Hall, Mathew McFadyen, Oliver Platt
Director : Ron Howard

Well, what do i know about Richard Nixon? Slightly thing about that Watergate case. Not much. History & politics are clearly not my field. I need to do some researches in order to enjoy the film. And to tell you the truth, i almost skipped this film. But, i am so so so glad i didn't. It is not what i think at all. Obviously deserves to be one of the Best Film of the year.

Based on a stage-play, Frost/Nixon caught some pictures occured after Richard Milhouse Nixon resigned from the U.S presidency. Until David Frost, a satire and eccentric TV presenter, plan to made history by arranging the series of interviews with Nixon.

I gave the first credit to the playwright for such a great screenplay. Never has a political movie been mesmerize me before. He made this movie becoming an epic one, surely an epic with no riffles and no colossal views. But the intense are alike. It's Peter Morgan. You guys probably had seen another his works thru "The Queen". Very-well written.

Another credit definetely goes to the duet Frank Langella & Michael Sheen. Oh, those interview shots are similar with a boxing ring. Really thrilling-captivating. Both actors did a brilliant job! Langella is the last actor i watched as a contender for Oscar's Best Actor in a Leading Role category. And must admit that he truly deserves to bring the award home. Oops, i shudn't made a prediction here.

Last but not least, Ron Howard, which create unexpected pictures and finally can redeem himself after Oscar reward him a Best Director nod this year. Not to forget stars like Kevin Bacon, Sam Rockwell, Rebecca Hall, Mathew MacFadyen and Oliver Platt which surely reinforcing the casts. Trust me, after this i tend to find some informations regarding this Nixon. It is true that movie truly made a people wanna learn something new, eh?

Memorable Quote:
"I'm saying that when the President does it, that means it's NOT illegal!"
(Richard M.Nixon)

A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)

Cast : Vivian Leigh, Marlon Brando, Karl Malden, Kim Hunter
Director : Elia Kazan

Ah, now i know where Nicole Kidman got that over-dramatic and exaggerate expression. It's from Blanche Dubois. Very classic kinda act. And Vivian Leigh was nailed the characters as a lonely-empty-neurotic woman who lives in a romantic fantasy world. Very disturbing, and over the top. But yet, for me her exaggerate act was done intentionally due to its character. At least, i agree with Oscar for rewarding her Best Actress at that time.

As for the picture itself belongs to drama with full of intensity, monologues and irrational numbers. We shall conclude what had happened between characters. Understood it was base on a play which i believe it will told the details regarding other things that haven't revealed thru the movie. Like, what is truly happen in Auriol? And also in Belle-Reve?

Having said that, i was delighted to see this movie. An open ending (which I always love) also let us free to conclude what will happen next.

Memorable Quotes :
"I don't tell truths. I tell what ought to be truth" (Blanche DuBois)
"You know what luck is? Luck is believing you're lucky, that's all... " (Stanley Kowalski)

Akiresu to kame (Achilles and the Tortoise) (2008)

Cast : Takeshi Kitano, Kanako Higuchi, Reiko Yoshioka
Director : Takeshi Kitano

In the first place, i was thinking that this movie is way too big for me. It explores what art really is, and i knew nothing about art. But then looking back to the opening scene which was described in an animated prologue explaining Archilles, the fastest humankind in pursuing Tortoise. It's just simple philosophy. Clearly, this movie is its literally art .

Portraying a life of Machisu Kuramasu since he was a child until middle-age who kept fascinated by art. He's translated his own life into a drawing. I've been offered for some absurdity thing that Kuramasu arrange in order to make its originality painting. Some people might consider this as a (black) humor, while i stuck in the middle of laugh and cry.

This is the first Kitano's film that i watch. And must admit that i'm extremely enjoy the picture. The ending scene genuinely sum it up and succesfully jerk my tears. Oh, F*ck!

Valkyrie (2008)

Cast : Tom Cruise, Bill Nighy, Tom Wilkinson, Kenneth Branagh
Director : Bryan Singer

All I know, Valkyrie is a classic masterwork from Wagner. Despite it inspires Stauffenberg (Tom Cruise) to do some revision of initial Valkyrie order, It also means an emergency plan developed by Reserve Army of the Germany to execute and takeover the country, after caused by the failure of Nazi government. Which leads to the attempted assassins of the Fuhrer.

The film is surprisingly thrilled me in. There was no violent actions at all. But still the value of its thrilling is not becoming any less. Even personally, i'd rather thrill this way than watching some literally actions. It's all about taking some decisions among the team. And understood that there are some language interest here. Like German movies played by Non-German actors with no German accents. Well, for me it's trully forgivable, since Bryan Singer brilliantly revealed in the opening scene by having Stauffenberg spoke Germany with English subtitle, but it gradually changed into an English speaking. Clever way, eh?

But then what i like about this movie that knowing the facts that there was not much romancing scene involved as a typical of Hollywood film. 4 stars out of 5!

Tom Cruise plays as Colonel Stauffenberg, is so convincing. But i like Bill Nighy who act as General Friedrich Olbricht. Great performance.

Memorable Quote :
"Look them in the eye. They'll remember you"
(Col. Clause Von Stauffenberg)

Singin' In The Rain (1952)

Cast : Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds, Donald O'Connor
Director : Stanley Donnen & Gene Kelly

This movie attractively hypnotized me with its musical. It is so tuneful and lots of fun. I even enjoy the slapticks joke which definetely not ruin the film becoming flimsy since I should thank it for the big laughs i made. Definetely deserve to be one of my favorite musical of all time. Oh, and it's classic. So glad to put it in my list.

Capturing a hollywood movie industry during the transition era of silent into talkie movie. R.F Simpson (Millard Mitchell), one of the respective studio owner and film producer at that time decides to release a movie project with 'talks'. Having the project was sucks during the first screening. Don Lockwood (Gene Kelly), together with Cosmo Brown (Donald O'Connor) and Cathy Selden (Debbie Reynolds), come to a brilliant idea to added some musical into the movie.

It is truly acceptable to confirm that music has an added value in anything. Classic issue, i know. But it works to turn on my emotions. This film is very personal for me. However it still remains the best musical movie ever made in history. Now, who's with me? :)

Memorable Quotes :
"The show must go on! Come rain, come shine, come snow, come sleet, the show MUST go on!" (Cosmo Brown)