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2004 10 March :: 11.57 pm
The Wedding Planner is shit. I've had a rather good day today, good business class, got reading done, planning for next year.
I got into residence again, then not the same building; it's still a four bedroom suite style, just different, less logical layout. The building is an architectural disaster, but I get an oven to make up for that. Hee! That's exciting, people! I'll probably be living with a current roommate, which is great.
Yay for Pen Salesman and George "I look 40" Huff on American Idol! Not that anyone knows what I'm talking about.
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2004 10 March :: 12.34 am
Just finished watching Gattaca. I know gbk and Tim will be pleased to hear it. Not at all what I expected, given the name - seemed like some Star Trek crap. Not so. Very interesting, and it was for the better that I knew nothing coming into the movie. Like the Hours, this wasn't a film that captured my heart, but it was one that had a brain, and raised all sorts of interesting questions. Perfection, the manufacturing of it, its value, the pressure associated with physical prowess, the unhappiness of being astonishingly blessed, but only second best. In a society so obsessed with physical ability measured in every way possible, all human elements are ignored. Cold cinematography, so impersonal, so stainless steel, reflects the lack of emotion, heart. All interactions are stiff, no warmth, no happiness, even for those who should have it all. Great relationship between Jude Law and Ethan Hawke, loved the irony in what's considered valid and invalid. Disappointed with Jude's character's choice. Didn't see the brother thing coming. Original idea, excellent execution, intelligent film. Awesome. Thanks for bugging me to watch it, guys.
Yes, the reason I decided to watch this now was Jude Law, after falling madly in love with him in Cold Mountain, and to an extent, Ripley. Done some research on the man, and his career choices, and I really admire the directions he's taken his career. He's fantastically capable - glowing, golden god in Ripley, morbid photographer in Road to Perdition, ordinary but soulful soldier in Cold Mountain, and now arrogant, bitter, but eventually loyal and somewhat passionate cripple in this movie. He's got an intensity that's extremely alluring; he steals every scene he's in. Magnetic presence (some of which, admittedly has to do with his physical perfection), the ability to play passion, heartache, and sadness, and then arrogance, cruelty, crushing confidence with equal credibility. He's got the versatility and intelligence of Matt Damon (whom I respect tremendously as well), but with a dark side that simmers closer to the surface, a fact that makes him much more captivating to watch. He's also got a raw, sexual appeal that Matt doesn't have. He's got a million very diverse projects in pre, post or current production, so that makes me very happy. I've seen Enemy at the Gate in French, so that doesn't count. I'll just have to rewatch it sometime. I can't wait to get my hands on Wilde, his breakthrough role.
Interesting casting news: Tom Cruise was originally supposed to play Inman in Cold Mountain, but dropped out for rather obvious reasons - thank GOD. THANK GOD. This could have been an entirely different character. Matt Damon and Jude Law both coveted the role, and Anthony Minghella gave it to Jude. In a better world, it would have been interesting to compare how the different actors choose to realise that character. Too bad.
Jude Law turned down Shakespeare in Love, in which he probably would have done a fanstastic job, but Joseph Fiennes was excellent, so I can't complain too much. He's sort of a flashier, more charismatic, better Matt Damon and Viggo Mortensen. I'd like to see him in something less serious in the future, preferably where he didn't die.
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2004 9 March :: 3.41 am
I should have gone to sleep a long time ago, but just finished watching the Hours. Don't fully understand it, but I admired it. Excellent acting, complex storytelling. I just couldn't connect with it; I don't think I've experienced enough in my life to fully understand the women's emotions, what they were searching for. I think the film was about loneliness, the lack of connection with the world, a search for something that won't be found, and yet it's present all this time; you just have to accept it and realise it. I don't know that I'm making any sense. It's about life, and deciding whether it's worth living, whom to live for, and why. I had a hard time connecting with the characters; I certainly understood some of the loneliness, the idea...the emptiness of a life that should be full, that appears ideal, and yet so suffocating and desolate at the same time. I just don't think I've felt it as acutely as these women, who want so desperately to be happy, but are so unbearably sad. They suffer, and yet they put up a facade of strength for the people around them, a task that takes so much energy that they're always on the verge of falling apart. I thought the performances and story were brilliant, subtle, and complex (too complex sometimes for me to pick up on everything), so understated, but with great impact at the same time. I'm definitely going to read Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolfe and Michael Cunningham's source material now. Interesting experience, that.
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2004 7 March :: 11.23 pm
Saw Something's Gotta Give on Saturday, funnier and a lot better than I expected. I didn't think Diane Keaton's performance was THAT amazing; it was good, great even, but Oscar-worthy? She was a little perky and girlish (not that those two characteristics are illegal after the age of 30) for me, but she managed to come across as a breathing, living woman with fear and heartbreak, as much as the comedy would allow. Much better than I thought. 3.5 stars. Very funny, recommended.
Nottinghill was crap. Julia Roberts totally phoned it in. Boring. Ugh. 1.5 stars.
How to Lose a Guy in 10 days. Not that great overall, but I liked the two leads, thought they had real chemistry, and a sweetness at times. Kate Hudson's character bugged massively at times, despite the intentional set-up, and Matthew McConaughey's character was arrogant and womanizing in the beginning, but that quickly disappeared for the movie to focus on Kate Hudson, so the arc was meh. 3 stars.
Cold Mountain. Impressive story. Good directing. Very cold, very lonely, and tragic. Excellent depiction of the senselessness of war, the cruelty and irrationality of mankind, but also some amazing friendships and familial relationships developed. Jude Law is one perfect, talented, gorgeous speciman of man. Wow. Wow. Between this and Dickie Greenleaf in Talented Mr. Ripley, he's...I'm....just... Oh, marry me already!
Alias was crap. I can't watch this show anymore. My second last beloved character has been assassinated. Oh Sark, how can such an incompetent, uncharismatic woman turn you into lustful boy? Where's the cool, unflappable killer with a sharp sarcasm and aloof personality? David Anders can have chemistry with an inanimate object, but Lauren is so much less than that. I can't watch them kill Jack too. Don't like this paternity questioning, the Sloane romance, the missions don't have meaning anymore, and there is no tension whatsoever. What happened to creativity? Everything's so manufactured and stale. This is horrible.
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2004 4 March :: 1.19 am
Check out my Morality! 71% liberal, 29% conservative
Eh. I'm not disorganized like they claim, nor am I THAT disagreable outwardly. I'm just an internally critical person. Cynic, jaded, sarcastic, but not to most people, only the ones I know very well. Ok, maybe I am disagreable. Heh. I am an introvert, and yes, I am rather close-minded, to stupid people. Lol.
I do think I'm more of a conservative than a liberal, but meh.
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2004 1 March :: 11.41 pm
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2004 29 February :: 4.22 pm
Wow, it's been a while. Reading week was awesome, kickass relaxation and catching up with the few people I did see: Chau, Aaron, Timeo, DA, GBK, and Vinca. It's amazing how smart company will raise my spirits which are now crushed once again upon my return to Worstern. Not a typo. I'll stick to this moniker until I or someone else can come up with something more clever.
Saw Touching Void, a documentary about two Bristish mountain climbers and their dangerous attempt to scale a formation in what was it again? Peru? Interesting, still held tension even though I obviously gathered that they would survive to do their interviews. I'm very new to the world of documentary filmmaking, but that was a nice introduction. Look forward to exploring this genre a bit more in the future.
Saw Gandhi with Ben Kingsley. Very good movie, an astounding lifetime of strong will and passionate, obstinate refusal to renounce beliefs. Incredible man, so much better than what I could ever hope to be. An amazing tenacity, capacity to love, philosophy, tolerance and acceptance of others. The world suffers without him. I must know read his biography and find documentaries.
Read Siddhartha, a tale about a young man seeking om, an ultimate unity of soul with peace and contentment. Beautifully told, emotional, flowing. A very relaxing, luxurious read. Simple story yet richly textured. Nobel Peace Prize winner, deservedly so.
Still not far into On the Road. I read a bit of For Whom the Bell Tolls by Hemingway. That'll be enough to occupy me for the next few weeks.
I actually have something of a crunch week coming up. French exam Monday that I haven't started studying for (will do so during the Oscars, I guess, heh), FCalc quiz and French presentation on Tuesday, Biz report that I'm halfway through for Wednesday, rather difficult Bio exam for Friday. Whatever, I'll start working.
Parents drove me 2.5 hours back here, which means I at least have lots of food and drink carted over as well. Ugh. I hate being back.
Oh, and I passed my G2. Woohoo! I can drive now!
Oscars tonight! Go ROTK!!
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2004 10 February :: 10.51 pm
Finished Black and Blue. Wow. The book was alright, nothing special, until the ENDING. Holy shit. I did not see that coming. The denouement was gut wrenching. I recommend it based on the ending of an otherwise solid but not spectacular novel. Good insight into why women stay with their husbands in abusive relationships for so long, how they see their abusers and themselves, and the environment that holds them where they are.
Next: On the Road by Jack Kerouac.
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2004 7 February :: 3.47 pm
Finished Confessions of a Shoppaholic. Still fluffy nothingness, but at least I stopped loathing the main character. The book served its purpose: to lighten the emotional toil from my last two uber depressing reads. Now onto Black and Blue by Anna Quidlen in my journey through Oprah's Book Club list, a story about a woman fleeing from an abusive cop husband. Yes, I know. Back to the depressing stuff. Stories about suffering usually achieve the goal of being compelling and memorable simply because the reader's sympathies are claimed at the start. Still, I hope to find more varied storytelling in the future.
MIT 025, a course that I possibly hate more than MIT 026 library cataloguing, has a midterm on Monday. BLAH.
Newsletter layout due Sunday as well.
Searching for a job with office work. Wish me luck.
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2004 2 February :: 4.31 pm
So I watched Requiem for a Dream after Road to Perdition not knowing anything about the storyline. Oh, boy. Just, wow. Requiem for a Dream is an intense, psychotic trip. So then I tried watching Blue Crush, which made me nauseous with its sheer stupidity after 5 minutes and I stopped. Then I watched Love and Basketball to mitigate my spiralling depression regarding the suffering of humanity, but that also sucked. Then I just went to bed.
Reading: Confessions of a Shoppaholic. It sucks ass.
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2004 31 January :: 9.27 pm
Bus 020 midterm was draining. Especially after a 2:30 am fire alarm that forced the entire residence to vacate the building for 45 minutes. Fucking idiots released a fire extinguisher for no reason.
Roommates are all out or have gone home. Alone in my room, just finished Road to Perdition: a very cold, harsh film. Trying to recover. I don't know if watching a bootlegged Cold Mountain next is a good idea...
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2004 30 January :: 9.08 pm
The entended cut of ROTK is only 4 hours and 10 minutes. I really hope that doesn't include the credits and fan club listing.
Dammit.
What happened to "over 5 hours" uttered by Ian McKellen? Liar!
That's ok. Still much love.
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2004 27 January :: 1.18 pm
Wow, is Miramax pissed or what! Cold Mountain failed to score a Best Picture Nomination, AND Best Director for Anthony Minghella AND Best Actress for Nicole Kidman!! Jude and Renee are still there, and it still has 7 total noms, but Harvey Weinstein's going to be raging mad for the entire year!
Is Seabiscuit really that good?
Yay for Johnny Depp! And Pirates for 6! noms.
Yay for Djimon Hounsou!
Too bad for Maria Bello.
Finding Nemo will obliterate the competition. HA! Country Bears and Triplets of Belleville? Wha?
No Scarlett Johansson. No Cate Blanchett. No Russell, or Tom. Nice to see some In America and American Splendor noms. Has 21 Grams even been released? But good for Naomi Watts.
LOTR has 11 nominations. I was actually kind of disappointed. It received:
Best Picture
Director
Adapted Screenplay
Sound Mixing
Score
Original Song
Costume
Visual Effects
Makeup
Art Direction
Film Editing
But no acting nom for Sean, which was rather unlikely anyway. HOWEVER, NO CINEMATOGRAPHY nomination after winning TWICE?? Andrew Lesnie is a deserving god! NO SOUND EDITTING?? After, again, WINNING last year?
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2004 25 January :: 11.06 pm
The Golden Globes are my favourite awards show. There are no painful attempts at witty banter, just efficient and classy presentation of the awards. In other words, the show focuses on the substance, not style, and the voters tend to more accurately recognize good work. Excellent.
LOTR: ROTK went 4 for 4 for director, dramatic motion picture, score and original song. Awesome.
Jennifer Garner lost to Six Feet Under Francis Conroy. She did look gorgeous, though.
I MUST see Angels in America. Others I really want to see are Mystic River, Lost in Translation, and Big Fish.
Underworld is a crappy movie.
Alias is also a rerun next week.
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2004 25 January :: 12.35 am
I ordered a B-52 Mocha thinking it was plain Mocha; the number's just the menu reference.
It was alcoholic. Oops. I drank it anyway. I feel a tiny bit off balance when I move very quickly, but otherwise nothing's changed. One shot only! Sign of a true, tiny Asian.
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