i want you to help me catch a killer of women.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, directed by David Fincher (Fight Club, The Social Network), is a movie based on the first book of the phenomenal  Millennium Trilogy by Stieg Larsson. It follows a disgraced journalist Mikael Blomkvist, who is hired by Henrik Vanger, a head of one of Sweden’s wealthiest families, to investigate a disappearing of his niece that happened over 40 years ago. Henrik believes someone from his own family murdered her. As Blomkvist starts unraveling some of the deep, dark secrets of the Vanger clan, he asks for an assistant. What he gets is a 24 year old, pierced and tattooed computer hacker genius, Lisbeth Salander, who, in my opinion, is one of the most interesting fictional characters ever created. As someone who has previously read the first book and seen the Swedish movie adaptation from it, I went to see Fincher's version, with some preconception and skepticism.  I was afraid he wouldn’t be able to bring anything new into the table. In a way, he didn’t, but what he did do, and in my opinion, he did it better than Niels Arden Oplev did with the first movie, he brought the magnificent book into life. Fincher’s adaptation is more loyal to the book and it manages to create the same atmosphere that you felt when you read the book. Fincher is also the master of visual beauty. He has a talent to make even the most horrifying scenes visually creative and interesting. Yet, retelling a story that most people know the ending to, seems like such a waste of time. Time David Fincher could have used to create something new. If you’re fan of the book, you probably won’t get anything new out of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, and you are most likely just curious to compare it to the original adaptation. I say you can wait for the DVD. But if you’re fan of Fincher, then you get what you expect. And if you happen to be one of the few people who don’t know the story, I recommend you go see this film. Tho I feel like I need to warn you, there are few very violent scenes unlike any other, but they are crucial to the movie and I promise you, she gets her revenge.

i'm a mountain top water drop.

i'm still here 
director: Casey Affleck
writers: Casey Affleck, Joaquin Phoenix 
in 2008 Joaquin Phoenix was on top of his game when he announced he was retiring from acting to pursue his dream to become a rapper. his transformation from handsome Hollywood star into a puffy homeless looking man made the tabloids go wild. while his brother-in-law Casey Affleck caught all this in film. for two years Phoenix and Affleck kept the world wondering, whether it was all just a hoax, or if Phoenix really did 'lose his mind' and suddenly turned into this mumbling man we all saw on David Letterman. but the fact that this movie is a mockumentary, rather than documentary, doesn't make it less real. it's a story of the tragedy of fame, and who else would be better to tell this story than Affleck and Phoenix, both of them have been involved with the business long enough to have an opinnion of its cruelty. Phoenix who watched his brother become famous and then succumb under the pressure of being a celebrity, does his role as 'JP' perfectly. while watching the movie, i knew that what i saw was scripted, yet i still kept wondering 'is this real'. it's a sad story of loosing your self in the limelight, trying to find your way back to your true self. in the beginning Joaquin Phoenix said he was tired of doing the role of Joaquin Phoenix, and i think thats the essence of I'm Still Here. fame is always just a role, we don't really know the singers and actors who spent their days sharing their lives yet still trying to protect their privacy as musch as they can. all celebrity really is, is a role you play, the trick is not to lose your self into that role.

if i jump, will i survive?

when someone says the name Christopher Nolan, The Dark Knight is probably the first thing that comes to your minds. well, as a huge movie geek, i have to, shamefully admit, i've never seen what people call the Best Batman movie ever made (i should take care of that, tho). what i think, is the brilliant Memento from 2000, and how no matter how many times i watch it, it always amazes me. so, when a man behind the supposedly best Batman movie jumps into the world of science fiction and dreams, Inception is exactly what you should expect. it's a movie with plot so complex, that even trying to explain it, would make me, and the movie, sound ridicilous. and maybe the less you know the better. just the amazing cast (Leonardo Dicaprio, Ellen Page, Joseph Gordon-Levitt..) and mind blowingly beautiful visual effects should give you enough reason to go see this movie, and i mean it, go see this movie in the theaters, your lame ass plasma tv, no matter how big, won't do it justice. i'll give you my word, this 200 million dollar megamovie won't be just an other boring action piece that you will forget about as soon as you get out of the theater. coming out of Inception is like waking up from a dream that felt real while you were dreaming and only when you woke up you realized something was actually strange.

 

the spaces between my fingers are where yours fit perfectly.

no, i have not forgot about my little Oscar-project, and i know it's lame to say, that i've been too busy to blog, cause that's never really true, so i guess i've been both lazy and both a little busy.. anyway, it's 3 until the Big Day, and i must say, i'm kind of behind my schedule.. but i've still managed to watch 12 movies since last time, so not bad i think.

yeah, i crossed few movies out cause it's just impossible for me to see them.. i don't mind not watching Burma VJ, i don't think nothing's gonna change the fact that i truly believe The Cove should win, and that i think it will win, so i don't mind missing one of the documentaries, but A Single Man seems so amazing, that i know i'm gonna watch it when i can, but just not before the oscars. so, 8 movies left, tonight i'm gonna watch at least one and on saturday i'm going to see Nine with a friend.. so i guess the situation is not that desperate, yet. anywa, on to the movies i've already watched since last time;

 

Julie&Julia, nominated for Acress in a Leading Role; Meryl Streep.
a very charming, cute movie, but i wonder, it it's nominated just cause Meryl is always amazing, not cause of her work in this movie. cause really, she did a great job, but it wasn't that amazing.. i mean she is always amazing, but i've seen better last year, that weren't nominated. not getting my vote, and still, i repeat myself, Meryl is one of the most talented actors, just that.. this time she was kind of avarage, or maybe it was the  whole movie being kind of average.

The Messenger, nominated for Actor in a Supporting Role; Woody Harrelson, Writing(original screenplay).
what a great movie! i know that The Hurt Locker has created a major oscar buzz, and it was good alright, but The Messenger, was way more touching movie about the war in Iraq. amazing, and Harrelson does an amazing work, but i'm just wondering where's Ben Foster's nomination for the leading role! he was great too you know.
 
The Lovely Bones, nominated for Actor in a Supporting Role; Stanley Tucci.
i had such high hopes for this movie, i'm not saying it failed all of them, but a bit it did. i guess the fact that it had king of low age limit, that some of the things that were kind of important in the book, where left out.. you can still think they happened but they're not implying so in the movie in any ways. anyway, movie was still quite lovley, and Stanley Tucci was amazing! it was so weird to watch this first, then watch Julie&Julia where Tucci plays Julia's dearing husband, he really is talented.

Fantastic Mr. Fox, nominated for Animated Feature Film, Music(best original score).
one of the best animated movies i've seen in my entire life, and that includes all the amazing Disney movies i've seen like 100 times. oh my god, how funny was this! i guess, one of the reasons i loved it so much was the fact that i grew up with my BFF Roald Dahl and his awesomely funny, dar, sarcastic stories. Charlie & The Chocolate Factory, still one of my favorite book. and of course i've read Fantastic Mr. Fox too. this should win! definitely, and you should all go and see it, too funny to be true, really. should be nominated for a Best Picture too. way better than Up was.

Food Inc, nominated for Documentary Feature.
so yeah, i think The Cove should, and that it will, win, but it doesn't make this documentary bad. it was quite good actually. i like how it had like subtitles and it was kind of like a puzzle of what we eat and how it's made. it really made me think of how i eat. it's not like i did any major changes, but i really haven't felt like eating a hamburger after i watched the movie, speacilly at the certain Golden M place.. but i guess they're all that bad.. funny thing, i really don't even like hamburgers, so i kind of hope this whole no fast food places thing sticks with me. and again, i recommend that you watch this. it's an important movie.

Avatar, nominated for Art Direction, Cinematography, Directing, Film Editing, Music(original score), Best Picture, Sound Editing, Sound Mixing, Visual Effects.
there are many awards Avatar really deserves, it was visually a perfect film. specially in 3D, just amazing. but what it doesn't deserve is the award from Best Picture, why, cause almost all it was, was a very beautiful movie, with kind of dull plot, and naive dialog! it was good, i'm not saying that, but, movie that should win Best Picture, should be more than just good looking movie. that's not what truly Great movies are made of, best movies have Soul, they make you think, grow and change who you are. maybe not like in the second, but as a huge movie freak that i am, i can say that many movies have truly impacted my life, and Best PIcture should go to a movie that has a meaning, that has a Soul, that makes a difference.

An Education, nominated for Actress in a Leading Role; Carey Mulligan, Best Picture, Writing(adapted screenplay).
unlike Avatar, An Education, is a movie with soul. it might not be visually amazing and interesting all the time, but it has interesting characters played by very talented actors. it has a simple, yet intersting story. something you can relate to, and it's a movie that  might not seem special, what's that special about girl falling for an older guy and throwing her education away.. but after you've watched, you can't be nothing but just amazed. Carey Mulligan does such an amazing work, it the oscar goes for her, i won't be sad at all.

Precious, nominated for Actress in a Leading Role; Gabourey Sidibe, Actress in a Supporting Role; Mo'Nique, Directing, Film Editing, Best Picture, Writing(adapted screenplay).
this movie definitely has the most talented actors of last year. both of these women deserve their oscars, and i really hope at least one of them wins. Precious is a very important movie. it's amazing how such a dark movie, can still make you feel so good. it's like SLumdog Millionaire all over again, tho it's even darker. it's a movie about being Precious, no matter who you are, how you look, or how people who are supposed to love you treat you, you are still amazing the way you are, and in this world, there are people who will Love you the way you are, you just have to find those people. this movie could win the Best Picture and i would cry happy tears.

The Hurt Locker, nominated for Actor in a Leading Role; Jeremy Renner, Cinematography, Directing, Film Editing, Music(original score), Best Picture, Sound Editing, Sound Mixing, Writing(original screeplay).
there are always movies that create that major oscar buzz, this year it's Avatar & The Hurt Locker. probably cause they've been nominated for most of the categories. but still, i think, neither of them deserves the most important award, which is Best Picture. The Hurt Locker was a good action movie, but it seemed unrealistic, and it was more about the thrill and action, than the true story about the bomb defusers in Iraq. i believe there's a real, important story there, that just wasn't told in the movie. yet i believe it has high changes of winning, Americans like movies about their wars, specially where they're men are presented as heroes, not that i don't have respect for soldiers, i do, just that, i don't believe the truth is like this.

Up in the Air, nominated for Actor in a Leading Role; George Clooney, Actress in a Supporting Role; Vera Farmiga&Anna Kedrick, Directing, Best Picture, Writing(adapted screenplay).
with Juno & Thank You For Smoking, Ryan Bingham has become one of the interesting directors of our time. as Juno was this very witty charming comedy, Thank You For Smoking and Up in the Air are much more alike, and they share this ironic, sarcastic humor, that we did see in Juno too, but it was slightly differet. Up in the Air is one of the funnies movies last year. It has this clever humor, that not all people enjoy, but i certainly do. it's a smart movie, interesting, and with unsual story with some very unusual but still so realistic characters.

Crazy Heart, nominated for Actor in a Leading Role; Jeff Bridges, Actress in a Supporting Role; Maggie Gyllenhaal, Music(original song).
this was absolutely one of the best movies of all these 12! and i'm sad it's not nominated for Best Picture.. i guess i loved it so much, cause my heart belongs to Country Music, plus any music related movie always interests me. Jeff Bridges deserves the oscar, he and no one else. amazing. Maggie Gyllenhaal was amazing too. this movie just, melted my hear. and the music, oh the music, best soundtrack for a very long time.

A Serious Man, nominated for Best Picture, Writing(original screenplay).
i'm not much of a Coen fan, those guys know what they're doing, i've just never really been that into them. but A Serious Man, is one of the funnies movies last year, too. i like Coen's humor, i've always liked it, but this movie was too friggin hilarious. specially the ending, the ending was just perfect. made me scream to the screel like a maniac.. with my mom in the same room, thinkin i've gone crazy. so yeah..


that's it.. i know this was kind of lame, me ranting about movies not really saying anything, but oh well, if it bored you should have stopped reading a long time ago :D! oh, and if you're into oscars, i'd really like to know what are your opinnions about the nominations. that's it this time. bye.

nothing gold can stay.

Project 82nd Academy Awards

26 movies in 3 weeks

i'm a fan of movies and award shows, so basically the biggest award event of the year for me is the Academy Awards. i've been following Oscars religiously for years. i remember when i was a kid and mom taped me the whole thing and i ran from school and forbid anyone to tell me the results. well, today, mom's not here to tell me to go to bed, so i just stay up all night and watch the whole thing live. due to the time difference, Oscars air here at 3am-7am or something like that. this year i wanna do something different. there are 58 different movies nominated for different  categories and 33 are what i'd like to see before the Oscars, which is most feature long films, skipping the foreign ones and short films. so, i've already seen 7 of them (well, now 9), which means i have exact 3 weeks to watch 26 movies! so, i yeah, i have some work to do. let the Project 26 movies in 3 weeks begin!

 

so, i actually started this yeasterday, and now i've shorten my list with 2 movies, gonna watch a 3rd one tonight. the thing i'm gonna do during these 3 weeks is, that i'm gonna tell you little what i think about the movies i've watched. the onces i've watched during this little project i mean. so, the first two were;

The Cove  &  Up

    The Cove, nominated for Best Documentary Feature | Up, nominated for Best Picture, Best Original
                                                                                      Screenplay, Best Animated Feature, Best Original
                                                                                      Score and Best Sound Editing

The Cove is a movie about annual Dolphing killings at Taiji's Natural Park in Japan. It was directed by Louie Psihoyos, a former National Geographic photographer and it follows the most famous former dolphin trainer Ric O´Barry and his request to reveal the dolphin slaughter that's going on in Japan. this is the most influential movie that i have ever seen in my entire life. not just cause what's happening to the dolphins, even tho that broke my heart, but cause, like O'Barry said, if we can't fix this, fix what's happening in that cove, in that little town, then we can forget the bigger issues. if we can't stop this, there's no hope. i really think, this is the one that sould win the Oscar of Best Documentary Feature, even tho i haven't seen any other nominees yet. i just can't imagine any one of them to beat this.

the truth is out. what are you gonna do about it.

 

Up is computer animated movie by Pixar, so you kind of know what to expect. good entertainment, funny characters and really well made animation. but for some reason, this movie seemed different. it had and actually heart warming story. the movie tells you a story of an old 78-year man, Carl Fredricksen who has just lost his spouse. a long time ago, when they were just kids, Carl made a promise to her future Mrs. Fredricksen, to take her and their Club House to Paradise Falls in South America. they grow old and their dreams never come true. when Ellie, the wife, dies, Carl desperately hang on to all their posessions, their Club House that became their home many years ago. then suddenly he has an crazy idea, to take the house, fry it with balloons to the Pradise Falls. it's a story of an old man, who didn't realize that even tho their childhood dreams didn't come tru, he gave the best life Ellie could ever have wanted. and that letting go, isn't the same as forgetting. i do like Pixar films, but this one was especially heart warming and wonderful. i'm not sure wheter this movie should win an oscar, or not. i've seen 2 movies from the Animated Feature nominees, and i might say, this one's better than Princess and the Frog, but i can't say anything about the other categories. i'll have to wait and see.

South America. It's like America, but south. 

you do know what you are drinking is meant for eye surgery?

Sherlock Holmes

director: Guy Ritchie

based on characters by Arthur Conan Doyle.

i'm pretty sure we all know who Sherlock Holmes & Dr. Watson are.. a detective and his loyal companion living in one of the worlds most famous addresses, 221B Baker Street, London, solving crimes. the Master Mind and the not so bright one.. Guy Ritchie's movie is a modern Sherlock-story, where Watson is actually presented as an equal partner and sometimes even smarter than Holmes himself. it still has all the important elements from the traditional stories, but it has an edge. me, i love the old books, and specially the original books by Arthur Conan Doyle, but i'm not a hardcore fan so this movie didn't ruin Sherlock Holmes for me even tho i've heard that the older fans have been kind of shocked by it. to me, it's just an other action movie with familiar characters. it's entertaining, funny movie that doesn't have a boring moment. i'm not sure if it's a kind of movie you wanna see over and over again, but as a first view it really kept me entertained. plus you know, pretty men&women running around in the late 19th century London is always pleasant to watch. go see it if you're not bothered by the fact that it's quite far from the Doyle's original Sherlock Holmes, you like action&sarcastic humour and you're into detective stories.

"My mind rebells at stagnation.

Give me work. Give me problems"  

also, one quick thing, an awesome fellow blogger, Bianca, is having an awesome giveaway at her blog Goodnight Little Spoon. go check it out!

let the Wild Rumpus start!

Where The Wild Things Are

director: Spike Jonze

based on a book by Maurice Sendak

 Where The Wild Things Are is a movie by Spike Jonze(Being John Malkovich), it's an adaptation of a classic childrens book by Maurice Sendak, that carries the same name as the movie. it's a story about a young boy with a Wild imagination named Max(played by the incredible Max Records). Max is a lonely boy who misses his dad and feels ignored by his mother and older sister. one night he makes a scene in front of his mothers new boyfriend and when  his mother (furiously) tries to make him calm down he bits her and rans away. while on the run Max stumbles upon a boat and he sets sail. after a few days at the sea he runs ashore to this strange island that is inhabitet by these odd Wild Creatures. they make Max their king, and the most amazing adventure that a 9 year old boy could ever have, begins.

Where The Wild Things Are is not a typical kids movie, i'm not even sure if it's a kids movie at all. but then again, anyone who has read the book knows, it's rather a blue and raw story about being a kid than a happy sugary fairytale. it's a perfect narration of a childs mind. how it copes with loneliness and responsibility of his own actions. "I have a sadness shield that keeps out all of the sadness and it's big enough for all of us."

what i found rather interesting, is that how clearly  most of the Wild creatures embodies people from Max's real life. KW is like his sister, who has "replaced" her family with her New Friends and Max feel she has forgotten about him. Judith is just like Max's mother, at least the way Max probably sees her sometimes, nagging and always taking the fun out of everything. and Carol, Max's favorite, sometimes really reminds Max himself. and Max, Max might be like how he sees his dad. The King, who knows how to have fun, but sometimes makes bad decicions, and has left him and his family like he is about to do to his new Friends.

it's absolutely an Amazing movie, beautifully shot and the writers had done an amazing job too. adaptating Sendaks book, that is like 10 sentences long, into a movie. go see it if you feel like you never grew old and you know there's a Wild Thing inside of you too.

"inside all of us is Hope.

inside all of us is Fear

inside all of us is Andventure

inside all of us is a Wild Thing."