The only unbearable thing is that nothing is unbearable.

A History of Violence

2008-05-02T14:21:00.000-07:00

This film is a just the kind of thriller that i like! The story has so much depth to it - the family relationships, the brutal violence that emerges slowly that serves as a link to the father's past, the small town life and it's crushed paradise. The violence tells the truth when the father denies it. It's so good! The mother realizes that her husband, the father of her children is a completely different person than she thought. The realization comes slowly, and creeps under your skin. First you don't believe it, then you don't want to believe it. But it's true. The son who appears to have inherited certain talents from his father come as surprises, even for him it seems. He realizes that his father must be that other person. When you have children with someone do you have to do anything to keep the family together? I think i need to watch this film again to fully understand the beginning of the film. But hey - any excuse to see this film again :) Amazing amazing acting by everyone in the film, especially the family members. This film will stay with me in my thoughts for a long time.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0399146/

Bonjour tristesse

2007-08-05T15:07:00.000-07:00

I wanted to see this movie because i've recently fallen in love with Jean Seberg's early films, and because this film was based on a very famous book which i've also for a long time wanted to read (and haven't yet read)! This film surprised me - it felt very modern yet very old fashioned at the same time. Also, the film changed between color and black & white. While thinking back to the past (the story of the film) the film is in colour and then when showing the regretful present the film is in black & white. Jean Seberg plays a spoiled rich girl with a playboy father who lives in Paris and spends the summers by the mediterranean sea. When the father decides to marry his ex wife's best friend his daughter comes up with a plan on how to stop the marriage from taking place. Very interesting about socializing and "dating" in the 50's. God being rich seems like you can act like a child all over again. Maybe that's freedom.

http://imdb.com/title/tt0051429/

The People vs. Larry Flynt

2007-08-05T05:56:00.000-07:00

This movie is amazing! I had wanted to see it for years, and now finally did. It's so thought provocing and inspiring to watch - and the fact that Hustler is a porn magazine is really not the point of the movie. Woody Harrelson is totally brilliant, and Courtney Love is perfect for the part as Flynt's wife. Basically the whole cast are brilliant. I am not into pornography but Larry Flynt is a really interesting character, and his life story makes for a really important and relevant film for everyone to see. It's about politics, cencorship, the US, religion, freedom and LOVE. It's a fantastic FUNNY movie and i loved it!

http://imdb.com/title/tt0117318/

Jules et Jim

2007-07-27T15:45:00.000-07:00

A film based on a book about an unusual relationship. Two men are good friends - best friends it seems, one is french (Jim) and one is German (or Austrian?) (Jules). After a lot of trouble with women they meet one who becomes their dear friend and companion. They both love her, and she loves them both. She's a fiercly independant, passionate and impulsive woman. She's complex and as the men say: "a real woman". This film is about the unusual relationship the 3 people have through the years - through the first world war and leading up to the second world war. Why is it so hard to choose? In this film instead of making choices adjustments are often made to please everyone as much as possible it seems. Can you love two people? L'amour à trois.

http://imdb.com/title/tt0055032/

Leon

2007-07-26T15:34:00.000-07:00

Little girl with a messed up family befriends neighbour Leon - a hitman. When the little girl's (Mathilda) family gets killed by BAD narcotic policement she finds refuge with Leon. She wants to get revenge at the assholes (policemen) who killed her little brother, so she asks Leon to teach her how to be a hitman - how to "clean". Mathilda and Leon embark on an adventure during which Leon learns to read, sleep and appreciate life. And Mathilda gets her revenge. Really awsome touching film.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110413/

A Bout de Souffle

2007-07-24T12:57:00.000-07:00

Beginning is a little bit slow. Once the american girl comes into the story the magic begins. Fantastic dialogue. The independant young american and the french police murderer who's in love with her. He's being chased, she doesn't know, she's pregnant, the child is probably his, it's not a big part of the story. She's in love with him but she doesn't want to be, they are both reluctant to give in to their feelings. A lot of talking will prevent from kissing, no? I love this movie.

http://imdb.com/title/tt0053472/

Broadway Danny Rose

2007-07-23T06:08:00.000-07:00

Great Woody Allen! This film is in black & white, with Mia Farrow as a fierce gangster's window who gets into a crazy story with Woody Allen who plays a performer's agent. Mia Farrow is AMAZING in her part, and Woody Allen is talking non-stop and being neurotic as usual. Crazy adventures and misunderstandings combined with great jokes and dialogue makes this one of my favorite Woody Allen films!

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087003/

Gia

2007-07-19T11:33:00.000-07:00

HBO TV movie. Yay. In the beginning of the movie when Angelina Jolie has spikey hair i have a hard time understanding what's so special about her - but stylists rather quickly transform her hair into more of a normal hairdo. As the movie progresses it goes from ok to good to GREAT! By the end i was really touched and could relate to Gia's sadness and desperation. The concepts of having one chance and blowing it, not being able to handle what you're supposed to want, not knowing what you want, loneliness and lost love are all things i could relate to. Poor beautiful Gia.

http://imdb.com/title/tt0123865/

Two or Three Things I Know About Her

2007-07-14T08:59:00.000-07:00

Godard sometimes bore me. This film didn't bore me that much. But it wasn't as good as "Masculin Féminin". I LOVE the whispering narration of the film! Is it Godard whispering? The "industrial" footage and noise that reguarly appears in this film is something i've seen in other Godard films - "Sympathy for the Devil" comes to mind. THAT was a film that bored me to the extent of me not finishing it. "Two or Three Things I Know About Her" deals with french society in the 60's. The lead character is indifferent to everything it seems and earns extra money through prostitution. It appears to be a common thing for women in this film. Her husband and children seem to effect her very little - they are only background characters. She and other characters talk into the camera about the apathy and monotony of their lives. Life philosophies tainted by sarcasm and pessimism are my kind of thing so i like that aspect of the film. And as always in Godard films everyone looks great and so cool in their 60's clothes and haircuts.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0060304/

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

2007-07-01T16:19:00.000-07:00

I think i just got high on a movie. Yes. Speed, colour, drugs, mania, carelessness and they get away with it all. Sometimes i wish it stayed fast all the time, but in the end it was all worth it. This film makes me want to do lots of drugs and forget all rules. Amazing.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120669/

Night On Earth

2007-06-21T06:00:00.000-07:00

5 short stories in 5 big cities in the US and Europe taking place in 1986 (i think). All stories take place in taxi cabs. Stars in LA, chatty hilarious italians, dry finish drunks, obnoxious loud new yorkers and emotional parisians. The best story is without a doubt the one in Rome. The taxi driver's confessions to the priest are totally hilarious. Winona Ryder's chainsmoking, cursing, tomboy character is fun - but not better than the Rome story. So yeah - ROME!

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0102536/

The Squid and the Whale

2007-06-21T02:54:00.000-07:00

PHD in litterature intellectuals as parents. Marriage falls apart and secrets begin to reveal. Oldest son is groomed by his father to be like his father which is very annoying to view. The father's ego has no back-up and finally the son realizes this. The mother's affairs with "philistine's" frustrates her ex husband, and he falls under the spell of one of his students who moves in with him and his sons. Sexuality is all over this filmin different ways. The youngest son smears the leftovers from his masturbation over the school. The oldest son dumps his cute girlfriend because he thinks he can "do better". This is of course followed by regret. How will all this mess end?

http://imdb.com/title/tt0367089/

The Devil And Daniel Johnston

2007-06-19T14:23:00.000-07:00

After standing next to Daniel Johnston in a small grocery store (we were both looking for chewing gum) a month or so ago at the All Tomorrow's Parties music festival, where i also saw him perform - both solo and with Yo La Tengo, i was very curious about who this guy was. Why everyone is so fascinated with Daniel Johnston?! So i finally watched this documentary about him ("The Devil And Daniel Johnston")...and omg now i GET IT! Now i understand the magic of Daniel Johnston's music, the interest in him as a person and the amazing life story behind all of it. So much pain for such beautiful songs. <3 Daniel Johnston.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0436231/

Volver

2007-06-12T10:56:00.000-07:00

Women. I love the way this film is all about women, and how Pedro Almodóvar's films always portray amazing colourful spanish women! A tragedy brings out strength, forgiveness, truth and togetherness as the story unfolds. Penélope Cruz is beyond amazing in this film - the part was made for her (i'm sure it actually was). Above all the thing that comes across in this film is the incredible strength the main character shows - how she manages no matter what stands in her away. It's inspiring to watch.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0441909/

Dead Man

2007-06-03T15:07:00.000-07:00

First of all - really amazing soundtrack by Neil Young! The movie is rather slow and it takes a while to get into the story. Johnny Depp's character "William Blake" goes from being a polite accountant to being a notorious murderer. The black and white shots become more and more visually appealing as he travells through the wilderness, his appearence gets rougher and he gets his face painted. The stillness of the movie remains despite the murders and ruthlessness because of the soundtrack and the calmness infused by William's fellow traveller "Nobody". Nobody's admiration for another William Blake - the poet is a great fortune for William. It saves his life many times and puts him on the great journey which is this film.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112817/

Erin Brockovich

2007-05-28T15:28:00.000-07:00

Wow what a WOMAN! I loved this film, i love that it's based on a true story, i love love LOVE Erin - what an amazing wonderful woman. This films shows the power you have when you believe something stronly and go for it. It shows you as a person is important and you can change things. The world needs more people like Erin. Power to the people!

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0195685/

Pieces of April

2007-05-27T13:01:00.000-07:00

Didn't hit me for a while. Maybe not until it was over. It wasn't what i expected at all, and the bonus material feature filled in some of the blanks for me. Why is it so hard to get along with your family? My parents actually called me while i was watching this movie and there were misunderstandings which made the movie hit me even harder. It's so hard to not have regrets and live life to the fullest - absorbing every second and spending as much time as you need with your loved ones. How do i prevent myself from having more regrets? Family life is hard.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0311648/

Transamerica

2007-05-14T05:09:00.000-07:00

The voice. I loved this film. The colorful landscape, the bright green car, the diners - roadtrip. I actually believed the lead character to be a man even though i knew the actress is very much a woman. The parents in Phoenix (?) are amazing - the house, the dad's conversation, the mother's weeping, the alcoholic sister.... perfect. See this film!

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0407265/

Notes on a scandal

2007-04-19T06:06:00.000-07:00

Judy Dench scares and disgusts me. Cate Blanchett is so beautiful it could turn any woman into a lesbian (or bi). The boy who gets Cate Blanchett's character under his spell is polite, boyish and exciting. BUT he is a little boy. Somehow the movie convinces me that a love affair between a 15 year old boy and a woman who has a teenage daughter IS possible. The love scenes between the two lovers aren't at all what makes this movie so good though - it's just about everything but those scenes. It's everything going on around, outside of their affair. The loving husband, the modern crazy and great family.... The movie sneaks up on you and then BOOM! - mayhem starts.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0465551/

Before Night Falls

2007-02-10T15:22:00.000-08:00

Extraordinary life. Spanish language. Johnny Depp in drag. Johnny Depp as a police officer with a big mustach. Well...the film actually has very little to do with Johnny Depp and yet just his presence as a colorful dragqueen AND as a strict police officer leaves quite an impression on me. I barely recogized Sean Penn! That was a good thing. Cuban country boy discovers his artistic talent and sexual preferences as he moves from countryside to medium size city to big city. From freedom and childhood to adulthood, fame and prisons. The cuban revolution's darkness surprises me and horrifies me. The gay poets and their circle of friends expanding and back stabbing. The story moves with the beauty of the spanish language and the radiant colorful shots. Underwater, water, the sky. Havanna appears a bohemian heaven as the revlution and its threats comes closer and finally crush the dream. The escape from the native country is the movie's lowpoint....the USA doesn't seem the place for him and the aging sick once so strong and fearful poet now sinks deeper into misery. Why not end the film before it all got so bad? The end was too slow, it was unneccessary. NYC didn't have the colors to match the poet's Cuban's life. His soul was dead before he was dead.

http://www.before-night-falls.com/frameset.html

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0247196/

Babel

2007-01-26T11:43:00.000-08:00

I almost cried. Such a beautiful film. Blew my mind. Don't know what else to say. One of the best films i've ever seen. Wow.

http://imdb.com/title/tt0449467/

Monster

2006-11-14T16:39:00.000-08:00

Love story. I was really moved. My housemate was sitting opposite me making sarcastic remarks about the film as i looked at him really seriously and said "this moves me as a woman ok?!" and continued watching the film. Young lost lesbian girl running away from her family and life seeks to connect with someone and finds it. An odd couple and a story that just gets more and more complicated. But the more the film progresses the more drawn into the story i get. By the end i'm heartbroken and sad for the characters. This movie affected me on all levels. It will stay in my mind for some time i'm sure. Actually i'm probably going to watch it again quite soon. All you need is love?

http://imdb.com/title/tt0340855/

The Spirit Of The Beehive

2006-11-11T14:26:00.000-08:00

Peaceful is the word that comes to mind. The film seems to be set in a place where time stands still. The images move the story forward, not the dialogue. The two sisters and their fantasies take over the film and their parents become mere background characters who are observing and not understanding their children. Who is the mother writing letters to? The lack of dialogue in the film is the thing that fascinates me the most. The silence and endless countryside where the children run across fields into their imagination. The part that Frankenstein plays in the film is odd and amusing - american horror movies just don't seem to fit into this peaceful country town in Spain. The youngest of the sisters - Ana is wide eyed and so pretty. Her older sister is cute and reminds me of someone but i'm not sure who. This film is the closest i think i've come to feeling what i felt as a child - it made me miss the overwhelming impact imagination and fantasy had on life. I guess that's a luxury you can't afford as an adult. But i wish i could.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0070040/

Shortbus

2006-11-10T18:01:00.000-08:00

Too much sex in the beginning of the film. Just TOO much. I had to look away. I'm too much of a romantic for that stuff... The lead character is called Sofia and she's never had an orgasm. She's beautiful and has, it seems, payed for all the great stuff in hers and her husband's apartment. Her husband doesn't seem very compatible with her, and they just look wrong together to me. The movie makes him seem like a sex machine who doesn't earn as much money as Sofia and feels bad about it. The voyeuristic club that Sofia's orgasm-free life leads her to is colourful, vibrant and full of life (and sex). Sofia's pink lips and swirling black hair almost made me long to be chinese. The colours of the film were really amazing, and the shots were also many times really interesting. In the middle of the movie i was really into it all, i thought it was really great but then it lost more and more of its magic. The beginning was just too much, and then end was too little - but the middle was awsome. The lonely sex worker with her rich bastard teenage (?) client in a leach is the best character in the movie - she totally blew me away. I want to see a film just about her. Suicidal gay lovers with a neighbour stalker takes up a little too much time in the film for my liking. The gay male model's accent reminds me of Americans i've met. Masturbation on a fantasy (?) bench by the sea. Well...the movie did have too much full on sex in it. It just seemed like the director wanted to break new ground with sex as his weapon. But to me sex is about love.

Highlight: JD Samson :)

Movie's website (really cool design):
http://www.shortbusthemovie.com/

Wristcutters: A Love Story

2006-11-09T15:57:00.000-08:00

I was late to the cinema so i missed the first few minutes of the film. Watching a comedy love story about suicide probably isn't what i should be doing right now... Sadly i wasn't insightful enough to realize that when i bought the movie ticket earlier today. So all these people are dead and they're in the afterlife. They've all killed themselves (or so it seems). Tom Waits is probably the highlight of the film. The russian guy is pretty great too. Maybe i missed the whole point since i missed the first minutes of the film, but towards the end of the film it just didn't feel complete to me.

http://imdb.com/title/tt0477139/

House of Sand and Fog

2006-11-01T15:19:00.000-08:00

Foggy nights with Jennifer Connelly sleeping in her car outside the house her father left her. 30 years of morgage payments. The footage of her on the pier looking at the dead bird floating in the sea & and of her spinning around in the pastel coloured afternoon. The love affair leading to a cabin in the woods. How could Kathy's husband ever have left her? I doubt i've ever seen such a beautiful house cleaner. It feels real and not like a movie. I feel scared of loosing everything just like Kathy has. I want to cry when she cries. My heart aches in my chest when she puts the gun against her head and cries loudly. Her lover got too involved and the innocent teenage boy dies. A policeman in jail. Kathy ends up not wanting what she faughts so hard to get back. She denies that it's hers anymore. What did she loose and what did she want? Thrown out of cheap motels without mercy. Why did he leave his gun in the trunk of her car? I wonder where she bought that white tunic like top. In awe of the colours, the tones of Kathy's voice. The lack of information about her past. Her family never showing up. When she gets thrown out of her house and tells the police that "there's no one" she can call. No friends to stay with, no family around to help. No one. She's being thrown out of her house by mistake. Not opening the mail for months in California. Such painful peace in that house. A beautiful foreign wife and all that tea. I wish the husband wasn't so strict with her. I wish he let her know what was happpening. Clues of a foreign land and all that fancy furniture. Saving money for the son's university education. But most of all....Jennifer Connelly on the pier. Wow.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0315983/

2006-11-01T14:52:00.000-08:00

A friend once suggested i'd make a movie blog about films i'd seen.
And tonight i saw a film that made me realize that a movie blog would be a good idea. So thank you my dearest friend for the suggestion.