When I'm sixty-four...

I wish I will be doing the same thing...
like everyday now

Alice and RocknRolla

I have watched two films in one day; surely a luxury. And it is somehow against my principle about not watching more than one film a day, because you just can't do justice to any of them when you are overloaded.

However, Alice is an absolute must for yesterday, and for my little collection of yet another Woody Allen film with growing affection, and then RocknRolla was actually a surprise choice, the result of an ill-fated match between Johan and a drama film (Two Lovers, which I will soon go to see).

Alice (Woody Allen 1990)

I just love Woody Allen! Not him personally (heard enough complaints about his personal life, especially the love life part) but he is just brilliant and so my cup of tea! Honestly Mia Farrow is not my favorite Woody actress (my favorite is Diane Keaton, absolutely not Scarlett Johansson, although she can be a good actress). I found Mia too often looking a bit too hysterical and fragile to me. And I don't like the way her voice sounds, but she is always perfect in the films.

This film is a typical crazy Woody Allen comedy with funny little lines inserted throughout the film. Now that I have seen a few Woody's films, I begin to recognize his typical humor. Even when she says a line in the film, I don't have to see Woody Allen's face but can imagine that line rolling out from his mouth. And unlike my husband, I found his jokes very funny, mostly because they are neurotic and silly, and meant to be this way.

This is one of the films that has a clear message; for me, not too common with his films. But I love his obsession with old fashioned music, graphic and general ambience. His films (not the news ones, perhaps) always have a nostalgic tone in it, which I adore. I noticed one flash-back/mental image scene which looks a lot like those of Bergman. They typical obsession with religion and sense of guilt, being put in this film in a bitter-sweet way. The subjects are always serious (marriage, personal value, sense of mission, love and betrayal) but the presentations are light. It gives you something without over-lecturing or boring you.

(*****)

RocknRolla (Guy Richie, 2008)


This is the opposite of Allen's films: Big casts, fast pace, flashing cutting, lots of actions and looks very sleek and good. But EMPTY.
I have to say, I didn't even like Rock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. That is supposed to be his best films and I just didn't like it. I always like the cute Brittish accents but that doesn't save this film. The stylish graphics and movements and cutting neither.

The film is about some real estate tyrants trying to do dirty business and get involved with all the other minor lowlifes. Sorry that my summary isn't too precise but the story is obviously not the point of this film. It's about the visual styles and the apper-to-be-witty dialogues. Sorry, didn't get that.

The characters are empty, the story is weak if it ever existed; the actors and actresses (only one female) can't do anything else than looking one-dimensional and cool (yeah, these days, looking cool is everything), which is the role they are given to play. It has way too many characters and way too many lines and plots and music and cutting. It is like a long long MV, flashy and perhaps tasty for most people. But then, after the film, you are left with nothing.

Definitely not my cup of tea, even though the film 'looks' good.

(* for the visual style)

p.s. I have seen enough film to see how empty this film is by simply looking at the stylish and all-too-perfect poster. But what can you do if your other-half is way too attracted to a roller-coaster film experience?

My humble attempt

My humble attempt has led to the death of this roll of film---a cruel reminder of how careless I am, and how much I have forgotten about my past. A distant past.

3 years ago, I brought this manual camera to Edinburgh and tried to take photos with it; then, I just forgot about it completely and if it wasn't for the Xmas project this year, which is to take films and then develop them in my father-in-law's dark room, I wouldn't have found out about the dying battery and this roll of film could have not seen the day light.

I killed them, nonetheless, and let's hope I have not also killed my Canon AE1 with my usual carelessness!

Dancing

Just realized that I always take the weekend off when it comes to my photo diary.
This is actually an old photo I took 2 weeks ago in Montmartre.
Obviously I tried to have some fun with the photo, and hope it doesn't turn out to be too eerie.

The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-moon Marigolds

The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-moon Marigolds (Paul Newman, 1972)

This is one of the saddest film I have seen. It's so real and moving that I felt very heavy when was watching the film, whispering: please, please don't hurt each other anymore.

It's a film by Paul Newman. I always find Paul Newman very very good looking, along with my fascination of the cinema of the 70s. However, I really respect him even more about this film, so as to all the actors (especially the mom and the little daughter) for their brilliant performances.

It's about a single mom and her two daughters. It is about how life can turn out to be very different from you expected, when you were young. It's about how cruel the world is, and how more cruel it can be if we don't love each other and take care of the ones we love and should love. I felt very very sorry for the little daughter. She's so bright, so good, and yet she doesn't get the love she deserves from her mom, even though she keeps trying and trying her best. I really don't like the older daughter and the film doesn't really provide any ground for her annoying behaviour except for the fact that she might had horrible experience before and she is ill.

I felt so sad because in this film, every one is a victim. And it is not like you can blame anyone for the other person's misfortune. It must be very tough for the mom to bring up 2 daughters on her own, possibly without a job; it must be very tough to look up to such a mom, so corrupted by her miserable life and bitter disappointment; yet, she must loves her daughters, or else that she is just losing grip with everything around her. Even though she doesn't seem to be trying a lot in the film, her bitterness is all over the film and even though she's not really a likable character, you can't be angry with her.

For me, this is a film about disappointment in this world. I guess it is all too easy to get disappointed by little things, like when the older daughter wants to go to this date while ignoring every single responsibilities she should take for the family members who she should love. She hates her mother, hates all the old people who lived and died in the house. Unlike her, the little daughter is quiet and mature, taking care of her family while showing interest in science. As innocent and kind as her is, she can't save herself from disappointments: from her mom, from her favourite science teacher, from her sister (probably) and the world.

However, there is hope, even though at the end of the film I could only see the pain of everyone, especially the one of the little one. She told her mom: No, I don't find this world hard to live in, and I don't hate it (paraphrasing). That's her view before the climax (the absense and craze of her mom during the science fair, the death of her only affectionate object). Would she still be so strong after all these? We don't know.

I hope she can.

An excellent film. I can't really put my thoughts and emotions together and write straight. Sorry for the messy comments. (6 stars, everyone who cares about real emotions and lives should go see it).

Lace

This is by no means erotic.
It's just a beautiful pattern. That's all.

Old window

My mother-in-law told us we have old windows in this apartment.
And so I loved the reflection it makes, especially when it's blurred.

Xmas

This is Xmas.
Simply Gorgeous.

Ciao Belle

I am trying to pick up this belle.
But first I need to get a battery.

Play

Just to play.
Comme tu veux.

New Toy

This is my new toy: Marine Band.
Thought it is not meant for beginners, I will do my best.

Raspal

It's not blood.
Just paint.

Montmartre

Weekend in Montmartre is great.
So many spectacles.

Goumand

We went all the way to Bercy for Carrefour...just to make these

Blue Glass

Johan said it's for the wind.
I said it's for the view.

Xmas light

This is the Xmas lights of Galarie Lafayett.
It's the most beautiful one that I have seen.

warmth

It's so cold in the flat.
Had to light a candle and this to keep myself warm.

Hope

It's a special day.

Blue

Can it get any darker?
A taint of blue.

To grap a drink

'Smoke' is very close to us, and the thrill of the night and being in the crowds is too.

Securtiy

It was pouring in Paris again.
I bought a helmet.