Stay for dinner?

I'm not even gonna put the trailer up because a glimpse of anything from this movie would be a spoiler. Craziest film I've seen in a long time. The Perfect Host (2010) is the lovechild of Sleuth (2007) and Fight Club (1999). Film's a total mindfuck. Now I'm not gonna rant and gush over it because you have to watch it without expectations/preconceived notions.

You can watch it online here. My downloading days are OVER. I've only discovered the beauty of online streaming. It pleases me so.

P.S. An update on my overly uninteresting life, it is officialy the 25th now. I'll be leaving home in approximately 22 hours time. I'm non too happy about it but the thought that my 2nd semester is actually shorter than my 1st sem + my Summer break will be longer than my Winter break, eases my suffering a little.

Dreams

Dreams are desires. I think it's an odd thing that we are allowed to dream what we want in real life when we're sleeping. Sleeping is the nearest to death one could get.

It almost makes death a very real temptation when all your dreams are lovely. I guess this here, is true:

The Man: I told the boy when you dream about bad things happening, it means you're still fighting and you're still alive.It's when you start to dream about good things that you should worry.

(Movie: The Road, 2009)

Almost. Well, enough of my predicted emo-ness (going back to Melbourne next Monday *sigh)

I watched a lot of Viggo Mortensen's stuff last week. Since The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, pretty much every film he's been in are very good. Oh, I've been watching the extended cuts of the trilogy with my cousin haha. They're awesome. I'm actually pretty excited that Peter Jackson is now filming The Hobbit in two parts. Nicked the novel from brother's room, will read it in Melbourne.

He's in David Cronenberg's A History of Violence, which I think is fantastic. Reminds me of Rurouni Kenshin in fact. What with him being good at killing and then just reinvents himself to become good, how his past haunts him and his family, forcing him to become his old self again.

Eastern Promises, also directed by David Cronenberg is pretty darned good too. He makes an excellent Russian mobster. The fight scene that everyone talks about? Admirable but ugh, dude's naked, had to keep my hand on the screen. Nyeh.

AND good news is, David Cronenberg's new film, A Dangerous Method which will be released sometime the end of this year will star Viggo as Sigmund Freud AND Michael Fassbender as Carl Jung. Two of my current favourite actors in one film! It's destiny I tell you. I'm just destined to adore them both. Do watch the trailer:

Another Viggo film I've watched recently is Appaloosa, a western film! I've never given western period films much stock but I really like this one. Film is directed by director/actor Ed Harris, whom Mortensen met during A History of Violence. He plays the more chivalrous and intelligent yet subdued partner to Ed Harris's more alpha character. They're hired to restore peace to a small town called Appaloosa. The whole 'unspoken intimacy' between the two gunmen comes across very well.   

  

Last but not least, the film adaptation of Cormac McCarthy's novel The Road is just brilliant. The post-apocalyptic scene the story's set in is scary. Especially the cannibalism. I think I screamed a couple of times for  The Man (Viggo) and his Boy to run from a bunch cannibal rouges. But more than all that, the hope, the innocence of the kid, good and evil. Everybody should watch this.

P.S. 

Apart from these I've seen several other films but this is a Viggo post. So, sometime later perhaps. It's just what I do. If I'm not reading, I watch films. Crap films, good films, whatever I could get a hold of. In fact, I watch an average of 1-2 films per day last semester (which probably explains my disastrous mid sem results HD, D, D, C. Mom freaked when I told her I got Ds haha. D - distinction, not the D below C. C on the other hand is a C - credit).

I suspect I will continue this unhealthy tradition of mine but I've got to be less obsessive. I've been doing this since pre-university, that is for the past 3 years. Seriously now. My marks will have to improve though I don't care for it. My parents insists so. I'll try to abide.

I'll always try just hard enough a.k.a last minute struggle , fret over my impending doom, write an emo poem or two, continue struggling, get shit grades, feel relieved though largely emotionless about it, forget, REPEAT. Typical me. Just whinging it.

Hunger

UPDATE: I've seen Centurion. It's kinda bland. *sigh*

I've watched another two Fassbender film. 300 (2007) and Hunger (2008).

Michael Fassbender as Selios

300's (2007) alright I guess. I watched the first 30 minutes, lost interest because Fassbender is such a minor character in it and went on speeding through and watched the ending. He plays Selios, one of the 300 Spartan warriors who all dies in the end. Now I get the whole "This is Sparta!" meme hahah.

Hunger (2008) though is something else entirely. Fassbender plays an Irish republican (Bobby Sands) who goes on a hunger strike while in prison to get the government to 'listen' to some demands they wanted for the prisoners. Shocking film. I think I had my hands over my eyes most of the time. Mainly because the inmates (strikers) are pretty much naked ('no clothes' strike), they get beaten a lot, the state of their cells is just...downright disgusting ('no wash' strike).

Fassbender's brilliant in it though. He literally starved himself to play the role. He was skin and bones by the end of the film. I'll spare you pictures of skeletal Fassbender. I myself could barely watch the last half of the movie. Won an award or something for the role I think, much deserving really.

Apart from starving himself, there's this dialouge scene he has with a priest + Fassbender's monolouge scene , which I think made the whole film brilliant. There're 2 parts. Do watch:

"Between rage and serenity"

Michael Fassbender (Magneto in X-Men: First Class) spam post.

I am obsessed with his insanely teethy smile. Crazy people on the net been calling him a Shark.
I approve.

He's my new obsession. Been watching films that has him in it. So far, apart from X-Men I've only managed to watch: 

Inglourious Basterds (Fassbender appears halfway through the film and dies 26 mins after. Good film though. Damned funny)

Jonah Hex (LOUSY film. Boring as heck. But Fassbender has some crazy tattoos on his chin and neck. He plays the villain's hencman. He mauled Megan Fox while laughing like a maniacal banshee. Very sharky. I enjoy his bits in the film, though he dies a grisly death)

Fish Tank (Film's just...indecent. Maybe it's about life, how the protagonist, a teenage girl feels like living in a fish tank what with her dismal prospects and lousy mom, how her passion for dancing came to an almost fruition but alas and just, getting away and find herself a new life I suppose. Aaaaannnywayyy, Fassbender plays a cheating creep in it. Very charming but yeah. Egh. )

"I'm Here."

Part 2: here
Part 3: here

This made me sad pretty bad.

It struck me today just how empty things seem over here. Not entirely meaningless, not always anyway, just empty. Wake up, cold, shower, class, home for lunch, class, home again, eat or cook (unfortunately), internet, study/assignment etc, call Adi & listen to Fluffy purring on the phone, Big Bang Theory/House/Movie/Read a book, blog a poem and finally; listen to music as I stare at the flashing city lights through my window (as written in the poem below) waiting for sleep to come.

*sigh* I feel like smashing the clock we bought and hung on the wall. It's too loud. At least I'm at home alone, for a while.

Howl

"Holy the supernatural extra brilliant intelligent kindness of the Soul!"

Somewhat obscene, yes but what entrances me (as with Fight Club) is the spirit. 

I paused halfway through the movie and attempted (and fail, obviously) to 'sigh in words', 'approach my Muse frankly',  something 'Honest'. As Ginsberg says.

But then again all the rubbish I ever write is one way or another something that is true to me. Perhaps I just need to put it all into a big picture instead of transient, fragmentary pieces frozen in a single point of time?
I'm just an idiot lost in a sea of confused realities. Just like everybody else, pretty much.

ObEwan McKenobi

Haha. Ewan McGregor has got a couple of new films coming up.

The trailer looks real interesting. From what I've been reading on the net, Perfect Sense is one of em' apocalyptic love stories in which a scientist (Eva Green) and a chef (Ewan McGregor) falls for each other as an epidemic causes people to lose their sensory perceptions.

Perfect Sense premiered at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival on the 24th January, last Monday. The reviews I've read been saying it's a real good film, possibly the best at the festival. Can't wait to watch it~

Next up is, Beginners.

Watch the trailer. It seems kinda quirky to me hahah.

Well, technically this was released last year since it premiered at the 2010 Toronto International Film Festival but it'll be released in the states on June 3rd. It'll probably be up on the net soon enough.

On The Other Side

It's been weeks. I'm still waiting for my course change to be approved. My peers already have their placements and the anxiety nibbling at my mind has progressed to painful gnaws. It wouldn't be long now that chunks of my mind will be bitten off and swallowed whole, and I? Shall be a hole. Empty.

Nowadays, when people ask me what I'm gonna study overseas I feel a very strong urge to bolt away, screaming at the top pf my lungs. This is now. Back then, when I still hadn't gotten my results I simply felt like smacking them in the face and walk away. Hahah.

Those are the urges, what I really do is, I lie. I tell them, "Oh, pharmacy probably." Each time this shit comes off the tip of my tongue I wonder WHY THE HELL did I lie? I mean, I don't need to. If I like the person enough, I'd just say I don't know. But rarely do I mention my request to change to Psychology. I say Pharmacy because I actually am offered Pharmacy in Otago and my sponsor is most likely to get me to do that. So far they haven't spring this on me, so I'm hoping my officer is lobbying for my choice to do Psych still.

I suppose I'm just too yellow to face the disapproving looks, the why-did-you-pick-thats, and worst of all, the ridicule. Good lord, that of all things just kills me inside. I tried you know, telling people who asked that I actually wanna do Psych. All they do is say stuff like "But you'd have to work with crazy people!" and then my parents would go "You know, Psychology is actually has a variety of job prospects. You don't necessarily have to work with nut jobs, you can get into Human Resource Management or Industrial Relations", which is all very well really except that it also mean they disapprove of my future involving working with nut jobs.

It's not like I'm trying to join a circus and work as a lion tamer! Sheesh.

If this don't work out, I really do need to steel myself and surrender to my ordained future. I'll have to study whatever my sponsor wants me to. I just hope I'd be able to...damn, well, just exist.

Anyway, this here is On The Other Side by The Strokes. My favourite band of all time, for eternity. An ode to my currently suffering mind. Have a listen. If you're feeling pissed at the world, most of all yourself, you'd love it. If you aren't, open your mind...

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P.S.  In my 'efforts' to stop thinking too much of my current predicament, and to keep myself functioning, today (I mean yesterday. Dang, I ought to stop posting stuff after midnight!) I watched:

"I felt it. I felt perfect. I was perfect."

 Black Swan (2010)
(Magnificent film. Portman is magnificent. Nina Sayers's descent into insanity is perfect)

"Amelia, would you like an eat to bite?"

The Terminal (2004)  
(Tom Hanks, what can I say? He's good)

"Kakaa...kakaa...*frantic kaka wokie tookie noises*"

Evolution (2001)
(I miss David Duchovny, I miss x-files. I last saw this film around 4 years ago yet I still remember the lines. Love it immensely).

Wonder Boys

I'm on a mission, that is, to watch all the films Robert Downey Jr. has ever acted in or at least ones that can be downloaded from the internet. So far I've seen 16. Another 3 already in my laptop, yet to be...watched. I'd say 'savoured' but that sounds much too icky, fanatical to be exact. Enjoyed then. 3 more yet to be enjoyed.

This is what I do. I watch films by actors, not genres, or directors. It's quite enjoyable really, apart from feeling distinctly weirded out at myself. I like watching films by actors because I get to see the range of characters they carry. What stereotypes they have (most actors have one), what mannerisms they usually employ. I like it when I find myself familiarized to their voice inflections and facial expressions, you know, how they tend to act out certain things the exact same way? Ah well, I don't expect anybody to understand anyway. Oh, one more thing, they usually tend to work with a few of the same actors and directors too.

Actors I'm partial to are (this means I've watched at least a dozen of their films), Keanu Reeves, Hugh Grant, Edward Norton, Ewan McGregor and obviously, presently, Robert Downey Jr. (in order of my phases of infatuation with them). Well okay, I've seen a handful of Jude Law & Jake Gyllenhaal's films too. I go through them in phases, after I've seen pretty much all of their films (ones available on the internet) I'd move on.

Right, enough of that. This post is supposed to be about Wonder Boys (2000). Lovely film, funny at times though mostly somewhat poignant. It reminds me of Dead Poets Society a little, because of the whole getting inspired, writing novels/poems, teacher-student relationship, pretty boys (hahah) and of course, Love. Not so much of Love for people, Love for lore. Just you know, literary.

Wonder Boys is actually based on a 1995 novel of the same title by Michael Chabon. I've only read (sort of) one of his works, namely The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay. Read it years ago, a friend of mine's. Not sure if I actually finished it though...probably not, since it's borrowed.

RDJ ain't the main character of this film but he's pretty main so there's almost plenty of him. As usual, he's delightful. I don't know, he just got that subtle eccentric, caustic energy about him. Even though he's not the hero, he's just a lot of fun to watch! Oh yeah, he's gay in the film. He's kinda got his sights on this budding weirdo yet exceedingly cute & talented novelist/lit student (Tobey Maguire) who is the student of his friend, a professor/novelist who he's also an editor to. It's not like his character is running rampant or anything, so it's nothing really. Just, funny.

"...my hood just got jumped..."

After today's hectic shit, I just really need a laugh. So I watched Tropic Thunder (2008). I think it is possibly  THE funniest film I've ever seen. Definitely one of my favourites of all time haha. Freaking hilarious. One of RDJ's finest performances. Just as he said to Brad Pitt at the 2009 Newsweek's Oscar Roundtable: "I rocked that movie." Even at this roundtable thingy, RDJ just stands out. He's real. Here's one of the 2009 Oscar Roundtable parts, it's on YouTube: click.

"Never go full retard!"

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P.S: I don't know why I bother posting bout films. I just do & I suppose I do like to *frowns*

In Case of a Bad Trip

When I start brushing my teeth using my cleanser instead of toothpaste then I know for sure that I'm really out of it. Anyway, it was 5A.M and I couldn't sleep.

Youtube only has one crappy video of this song, so I made this. This is the only 12 minute song I've ever listened to entirely and liked. One of them songs that I listen to when I feel positively apocalyptic, among The Strokes and a couple from Radiohead of course. 

Oh, as for the Donnie Darko clips I threw in...I just think it fits my 'apocalyptic' mood. Snazzy film. Wrote bout it in my old blog here. Heck, I even bought The Donnie Darko Book. Wanna see the scans? Here.

Right now though, this song is one of the two things that keeps me going. So that I won't forget to breathe~ won't forget to breathe~

In Case of a Bad Trip  By  The K.G.B

The Route V50

The youtube video up there is the 12 minute short film titled The Route V50 (2004) starring the one and only Robert Downey Jr. 

I'd write a synopsis if I could but really, I have absolutely no idea what it's actually about. It's one of those vague short films nobody but the film makers know what they're about. Do watch. RDJ's the only actor in it. Isn't that enough reason to watch? Anyway, It's short & free!

Oh yes, I found the link form this nifty website The Robert Downey Jr. Film Guide. Pay a visit. Even if you're not a fan, please do. It's a testament to how committed obsessed fans out there are. Not only does it have a list of all the films RDJ has ever been in, it categorizes the contents of the films by very specific factors! Just brilliant & absurdly obsessed. I found myself laughing when I stumbled upon this site. 

Here's an example, for The Route V50 :

Summary	As a traveler searches for a place called Confidence, he keeps running into other versions of himself.
Director	Stephen Frears
Downey Factor	High. He is the only actor in the film
Character	A wayward traveler caught in surreal scenario
Looks	Good. Clean, wears a black suit, white shirt
Performance	Excellent
Dies, Gay or Villain	No, no, no
Availability	Released in March 2004 on Volvo's british website in conjunction with the launch of a new vehicle. No longer available from Volvo, but I have posted it -- HERE
2 Reasons to See It	1. He has a conversation with himself! 2. Oh, come on, it's free!
Overall	It's a little strange to explain this film to someone who hasn't seen it, but it's entertaining, interesting, short, and pure Downey. You simply have to see it.
If You Like It	You might also like M.C. Escher.

Then there're some Photos (screencaps from the film) and Video (Trailer for the film). 


I mean, RDJ must've played quite a lot of characters that 'Dies, is Gay or is a Villain' to have earned his films such a category! Hilarious.

______________________________________________________________________________________________

P.S: The fact that the site's link has 'dandychick' in it is just too much. Can't help but laugh. It suits him though. RDJ I mean. He's quite a character.

Less Than Zero

'Disappear Here', 'People are afraid to merge on the freeway.'

I don't know why this novel is tagged as The Catcher In The Rye for the MTV Generation. I really don't. The amorality depicted in Less Than Zero unnerves me. It really is, very disturbing. 

The novel revolves around Clay who comes home to L.A for the winter break during which he spends his time with his friends at parties and clubs doing drugs and such. The way it is written, you'd find it hard to believe it is fiction. Other than that, the moral depravity of Clay's friends is astounding. 

I got pretty incensed while reading two particularly horrifying bits of the novel involving Clay's friend, Julian who prostitutes himself to support his drug habit and this other bit where Rip, Clay's dealer, has a 12 year old girl tied to his bed. In both events, Clay did NOTHING. Absolutely NOTHING. With Julian, he just sits there. While with the girl, he just left! He didn't stop Rip or call the police. Who in their right mind would allow such things to happen? But then again, Clay's a junkie. I don't know, it's just, well, 'fucked up'.

What I do like, is the 'Disappear Here' and the "People are afraid to merge on the freeway.", when Clay glimpses the reflection of his eyes in the rear view mirror, when he saw his House from the hotel and thinks that maybe his dad can see him, and other such bits. Don't know how to describe them, part of Clay's psyche I suppose. I think they're brilliant.

If Clay is in a rye field, he wouldn't be catching the kids that are approaching the brink, he'd probably 'cut a line' and just watch them with apathy. 

I've downloaded the film version of Less Than Zero (1987). Planned on watching it tonight but now I'm not too hot on the idea. Because RDJ plays the character Julian. That'd be much too depressing. I'd probably get upset. Also, because of this:

"Ask him (Robert Downey Jr.) when the problems started and he says, "You'd have to go way, way back." Though, after a moment's deliberation, he cites 1987's Less Than Zero as a point where the ante was substantially upped. "Until that movie, I took my drugs after work and on the weekends. Maybe I'd turn up hungover on the set, but no more so than the stuntman. That changed on Less Than Zero. I was playing this junkie-faggot guy and, for me, the role was like the ghost of Christmas future. The character was an exaggeration of myself. Then things changed and, in some ways, I became an exaggeration of the character. That lasted far longer than it needed to last." 

Source: More Than Skin Deep, 2003

Urh. Anyway, here's a song by Bloc Party dedicated to the main character of this novel, Clay. Awesome song.

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P.S: I'm reading Nelson Algren's A Walk On The Wild Side next. Now that I've read Less Than Zero, why not eh? It can't be any worse.

P.P.S: Aite, UPDATE:  Saw the film. HATE it. Nothing like the book & Julian DIES? Wtf.

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang

"This is every shade of wrong."

Haha. Yeah, I have no life so this is what I do. I get bored or quasi depressed (they're one and the same), then I'd read a book and watch a film or two. Apart from sleeping that is. Begone, my sea or ennui!

And this film here is called Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005). Because I'm incredibly sleepy right now I'm just gonna copy-paste from Wikipedia. Okay. Here: 

"crime/dark comedy film, which engages many conventions of the classic film noir genre in a tongue-in-cheek fashion. It is based, in part, on the novel Bodies Are Where You Find Them by Brett Halliday. The cast includes Robert Downey, Jr.,Val Kilmer, Michelle Monaghan and Corbin Bernsen."

I like the film. It's funny and I can't decide whether it's shitty or brilliant, which oddly enough, makes me enjoy it that much more. It could be because I'm currently very very partial to Mr. Robert Downey Jr. but whatever, he's wickedly funny and pretty. The lackadaisical air he has about him is just fantastic. He's my new film target now. Got tired of Jude Law and have already seen all Ewan McGregor's films that I can find on the internet. So that's that.

Shall try to finish reading Less Than Zero by Bret Easton Ellis by tomorrow so that I can watch the film, which incidentally also includes RDJ as part of the cast.

Gone, Baby Gone

Magnificent film by the Afleck brothers, Ben  & Casey.

Gone Baby Gone (2007) questions the very fabric of morality. I don't think I've ever seen a film that carries the message of how 'Right' and 'Wrong' are not simple. How they aren't black and white, a lot of gray areas. Probably mostly gray areas. Film's definitely in the crime/drama-mystery/detective genre but unlike other counterparts in such a popular genre, the plot isn't the staple, overtly simplistic 'the good guys beat the bad guys'. I enjoyed mulling over my own thoughts as I watch the film, comparing them to the characters' as depicted by their actions and convictions. All in all, a hauntingly realistic and thought provoking film.

Plot revolves around two private investigators, Patrick Kenzie (Casey Afleck) and his partner/girlfriend Angie Gennaro being hired by family members of a abducted 4 year old girl, Amanda. The duo teams up with two much senior police detectives, Remy Bressant and Nick Poole to return Amanda to her addict mother, Helene. Joining them is the police force, headed by Captain Doyle whose 12 year old daughter was also abducted and murdered, which makes matters very personal for him.

Due to the nature of the plot, this film's release in Malaysia was delayed by a year due to the tragic abduction and murder of 8 year old Nurin Jazlin in 2007. 

I don't know why I bother posting about films. I suppose I just feel like writing something about them. Special films that really leaves an impression on me.

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P.S: Saw The Soloist (2009) too today. I thoroughly enjoyed this too. Based on a true story, it stars Robert Downey Jr. as a L.A Times reporter, Steve Lopez who helps a schizophrenic and homeless yet very talented cellist, Nathaniel Ayers (Jamie Foxx) as he writes his column about Nathaniel.

If you love classical music and is partial to Ludwig Van Beethoven, you'd probably enjoy this film more :) My personal favourites of Beethoven are Fur Elise & The Moonlight Sonata. Not that I'm all that familiar with Beethoven's music anyway eheh.

This too, is a film that is poignant and true to life. Absolutely beautiful.