Of all the Oscar movies I’ve seen this year, this is my most favorite. Without doubt, the movie combines top notch performances with the entertainment value that was never forced or even trying. It just simply was very well-crafted. Not to mention having a theme that is universally appealing and highly relatable.
Slumdog Millionaire explores the bowels of India, peels its every coating and showcases a raw picture of a society hibernating in its rich culture amidst the cruel realities of living – corruption, injustice, poverty. But despite a seemingly ugly picture, the movie beautifully builds up a theme of love, friendship and destiny and empowers the strength of the human will and its miraculous capacity to renew itself and continue to hope and dream despite and against the odds.
The movie is directed by Danny Boyle and stars an awesome and perfectly casted ensemble cast lead by British young actor Dev Patel. The movie is an experience to watch and will definitely make you believe that indeed, everything, no matter how mundane they may be, has a reason for happening and existing; that they are there – that they happen, because it is written.
I am not a Will Smith fan. But my perspective of him was changed by this movie. I won’t call myself a fan still, but he has earned my respect as an actor.
Seven Pounds is about a man who intricately plans to give hope, joy and a new sense of life to seven people (based on the universal standard of goodness, which he follows to the “T”) before he commits suicide. Quite a morbid twist on “paying it forward”. Morbid but moving.
The theme may be commonplace and cliche to some, but to most people i suspect it will be dramatically inspiring (it was to me, at least).
Except for the cliche theme, the remarkable thing about the movie though is Will Smith himself, the actor. I’ve never seen Will in any of his films with this great depth and sensitivity. His character just swells in deep loneliness and you are strangely attached, hoping that somehow he will break free of it and continue to live a happy life. You see him giving hope and joy to people, thinking that it would somehow ease his pain, but no. The pain and the loneliness just stays and becomes even more affecting until that one last breath.
Reason to see the movie: If you’re feeling down and you need some lifting up, this movie is a good watch. Strangely, even with it’s tragedies, you still feel the hope and love for life that the film wants to put across. And of course, Will Smith’s performance couldn’t be counted out.
Ang Lihim Ni Antonio(Antonio’s Secret) is the most intriguing gay-themed Filipino Indie film that i have watched recently. Intriguing, because to me:
1. The cinematic attack is schizophrenic (the movie seemed to be confused if it wanted to be light or heavy).
2. The story is cliche in every sense of the word (until the very disturbing ending).
3. The script is real life but it becomes a bit dragging at some parts.
And yet the film compels you to give it a second-look, it interests you and makes most of the earlier gay-themed Indie films poorly made and haphazardly done.
It is the outstanding ensemble cast performance and the beautiful setting and cinematography that becomes the movies salvation. All the actors in the cast were perfectly placed and chosen based on how they really fit into the characters, and mind you, most of them are virtually unknown names; so one can see that the producers/director aimed this to be one of the movies strongest points as I found out that rigorous screening (why, even the Philippines’ Indie Film Prince, Coco Martin did not make the cut) and workshops were done prior to the actual making of the film.
It is always a pleasant feeling whenever i find a great and meaningful movie. But sometimes, the opposite happens: this great and meaningful movie finds you, speaks to you; and you are taken aback, overwhelmed, affected, changed.
I did not plan to watch the Thai filmTheLove of Siam. I thought it was just another gay-themed film where the highlight would be that one hot love scene between the two male protagonist. I did not even think its worthwhile to watch; thus, for the first 30 mins of the film, i did not focus and went on to do my usual computer work.
