film: australia et al

Baz Lurhmann's 2008 epic Australia was a pleasant surprise. The fact that it was a billion years long, the fact that it was swathed in controversial press and the fact that it was about Australia, made it very hard not to be cynical, even from a long lover of the Baz. I loved it. I really did. Of course it was a bit cheesy here and there, and it's storyline classic, but it was just so beautiful and fresh in enough bits. I instantly fell in love with Nullah and finally understand everyone's silly crushes on Hugh Jackman, the Drover. Whilst long, I was engaged the entire time, adoring every centimetre of the screen for nearly most of it. Definitely transcended hype (in an if you can handle some cheese sort of way).


I was reluctant to see this one actually. Although I would say I am fairly or almost very interested in political history, I generally like to keep those interests confined to print: in books and the papers. However, seeing Frost/Nixon unexpectedly got me beyond excited. Based on the Frost/Nixon interviews after Nixon's resignation, the surreal nature of it being a based on events and words that are fairly true breathes so much life into the film. It is just so god damn fascinating. Maybe I'm just a polinerd or maybe it was a really good film, or just really interesting subject matter. Either or anyway, excellent, excellent stuff.



Where my Australianhood commanded a viewing of Australia, Twilight, I feel, is a prerequisite film for my existence as an adolescent. The film was fairly dreadful as expected but Robert Pattison as Edward Cullen was pretty enough to prevent excessive eye-rolling and gagging. Finest face in the universe? Probably not. But still fairly gorgeous.


I finally watched The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy recently and I loved it beyond words. Therefore all I will say is, this is magical, wonderful, philosophical, funny, gorgeous, super stuff and if you don't watch it, you are missing out. Really.


Next movies on my hitlist: Slumdog Millionaire, Revolutionary Road, Milk, The Class, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Choke, The Wackness(+ Paris Je T'aime at the Astor)

and see you all in the NEW YEAR! May it be bright and shiny and lovely and wonderful and supermegacool.

film: in the mood for love

Asians are not unloving and unromantic and unaesthetic. That is a falsehood. Of course they are not known for their sensuality like ze French, naturally, but there are some pretty wonderful things. Like haikus, pretty silks, oriental tea, bamboo paper and Wong Kar Wai films. 'In the Mood for Love', is a delightful film about two cuckolds (ahah, sorry, but I must) who develop a delicate and moving bond. It is really one of the most sumptous yet intricately subtle films I have ever had the pleasure to see, soft like cotton, pretty like qi pao silks and a wonderful mix of East meets West.