The Fountain

We saw this movie today. Rather interesting, but if you don't like abstract films with a big dosis of reincarnation, death and sci-fi you might not enjoy it.

4 out of 16

In the end, Babel won 1 Oscar for original soundtrack, and Laberinto del Fauno (Pan's Labrynth) won 3 for cinematography, art direction and make-up. Children of Men left blank. Even though the harvest was very good for Mexican cinema (bordering on the historic), these films missed out on the big categories, such as best picture, best foreign language film, best director, and best (supporting) actor/actress.

Last King of Scotland truly deserved the award given to Forest Witaker. I can't yet comment on the big winner of the night, The Departed, since I haven't seen it.

I hope Cuarón, del Toro and González Iñárritu have another shot at the big prizes. I'm very happy for the winners, but it feels a little bit like losing on penalties.

The Last King of Scotland

I just saw this very good movie, based on the events of the dictatorship of Idi Amin in Uganda. The performance in the main role by Forest Whitaker is just outstanding, and the script is very well written. Some scenes are quite strong, but all in all it is a very good story.

3 films by Mexican directors nominated for the Oscars

Babel received 7 nominations (including best director and best picture), El Laberinto del Fauno (Pan's Labrynth) 6 (including best foreign language film) and Children of Men 3.

I found the best quote about the three movies in a Brazilian website:

"Del Toro, Alejando González Iñárritu and Alfonso Cuarón are examples of movie makers that never stopped giving their own touch to their productions, regardless of being tied to big studios. Coincidentially, or not, all three are nationals of a country that still today is treated with disdain by the Americans. The prejudices won't end any time soon, but their talent and their success is the best answer."

In other news, the Spanish are also happy. Penélope Cruz is also nominated for best actress, some Spanish documentaries are in the fray, and the possible success of Laberinto del Fauno (Pan's Labrynth) is also theirs, as a big part of the staff and all of the actors are Spanish.

Gustavo Santaolalla from Argentina created the score for Babel, and he's also in the running.

I hope they all win, but of course the competion is tough.

¿Y tú, cuánto cuestas?

Olallo Rubio, el alguna vez locutor de la extinta estación de radio chilanga Radioactivo, nos presenta su primer largometraje.

Los teasers aquí, aquí y aquí. El trailer abajo.

After Star Wars, waiting for movies is not what it used to be

I remember the hype for Episodes I-III. I even went to line up for tickets for the Episode III Helsinki premiere. I used to check TheForce.net and StarWars.com everyday. Not anymore... I miss my Star Wars fix, and I miss anticipating something for so much sometimes. I guess it has to do with growing up. =P

El Laberinto del Fauno (Pan's Labrynth)

The last of the three movies by Mexican directors being released at the end of 2006. I'm still undecided which one I like the most, Children of Men, Babel, or this one. All of them are beautiful, but I have to give a lot of credit to Guillermo del Toro for such a vivid imagination and such a beautiful photography throughout the film.

I'll buy all three, and surely hope all of them win Oscars.

Totoro!

Totoro!, originally uploaded by Chiva Congelado.

If you have the chance, check out this beautiful Japanese movie. It is very touching.

The 13th warrior

Even though this is not the greatest movie ever, I feel quite identified with the main character, as I was also a southerner living in the northern lands (though I'd be more of an Aztec amongst Fenni instead of an Arab amongst Norsemen). The whole scene where the guy starts to understand their language was especially strong to me, as I went through the same process.

Babel

Babel, originally uploaded by Chiva Congelado.

Best movie I've seen in a while (and I've seen a few lately). It is really striking how González Iñárritu uses the theme of misunderstandings in such a recurrent and striking way. If this movie doesn't win at least one Oscar then I really don't understand the committee that awards them.

If you haven't seen it already, go!

Pulp fiction dialogue

Jules & Vincent are talking about Vincent's European experiences.

Vincent: ...But you know what the funniest thing about Europe is?

Jules: What?

Vincent: It's the little differences. I mean they got the same shit over there that they got here, but it's just - it's just there it's a little different.

Jules: Examples?

Vincent: Alright, well you can walk into a movie theater in Amsterdam and buy a beer. And I don't mean just like in no paper cup, I'm talking about a glass of beer. And in Paris, you can buy a beer at McDonald's. And you know what they call a, uh, a Quarter Pounder with Cheese in Paris?

Jules: They don't call it a Quarter Pounder with Cheese?

Vincent: Nah, man, they got the metric system, they wouldn't know what the fuck a Quarter Pounder is.

Jules: What do they call it?

Vincent: They call it a "Royale with Cheese."

Jules: "Royale with Cheese."

Vincent: That's right.

Jules: What do they call a Big Mac?

Vincent: A Big Mac's a Big Mac, but they call it "Le Big Mac."

Jules: "Le Big Mac." [laughs] What do they call a Whopper?

Vincent: I dunno, I didn't go into Burger King. But, you know what they put on french fries in Holland instead of ketchup?

Jules: What?

Vincent: Mayonnaise.

Jules: God damn!

Vincent: I seen 'em do it, man, they fuckin' drown 'em in that shit.

Jules: That's some fucked up shit.

Star Wars in different languages

Saw a post at Jedifreac's blog about Star Wars in different languages. Hilarious!

Planta 4a

I saw this movie some weeks ago in Dutch TV. Quite nice, but very, very sad. Recommendable if you have a chance to see it.

This blog will most probably be on "publishing holiday" for the next week or so. Hope my four readers (Germán Dehesa dixit) don't miss me too much.

Children of Men

We saw this movie during the weekend, and I have to say, it really got me thinking. I won't spoil it for you, but it had a lot of relevance to me given that I'm a person who has been living abroad almost one quarter of my life. Absolutely recommendable.

The Butterfly Effect

I saw this movie some time ago in Finland, and couldn't help but think about those little events that changed the course of my (so far not very long) life. I think the largest one was me picking up a magazine around 1997 at my parents' business. Had it not been for an article there, my dad wouldn't have reestablished contact with an old friend of his, who was the one who suggested me to go to study to Finland. The rest, as they say, is history.

What about you?

Mexican film directors in Hollywood

I came accross an article depicting the artistic relationship between Alfonso Cuaron, Guillermo del Toro and Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, and couldn't help to be a little moved by their self-professed admiration for each other, and the assistance and cross-pollination they've given to each other.

"Babel", "Children of Men" and "Pan's Labrynth" will be released during this fall, and I for one plan to watch them.

Recommended movies: ”Thank you for smoking” and ”I heart Huckabees”

Both are rather existential, but very good, even if you just stay at the level of the comedy and not the subtexts.

Favourite quotes: ”You gotta pay the mortgage” and ”How am I not myself?”.

Star Wars: from I to VI

I finally had some time to sit down and watch all Star Wars movies in the order they are supposed to be, according to the flanneled One, Mr. George Lucas. I have to say that I was actually quite surprised, because even though I consider myself a real Star Wars geek there were certain things that "clicked" when I finally dragged my ass to watch them all in a row on the same day. If you haven't yet seen them all, stop reading, as spoilers follow:

* Yes, I know everybody considers Episode I an insufferable piece of crap, but I have to say that without it jumping straight into Episode II would make III far less dramatic. You wouldn't know that Anakin is good. That it may suffer from overexposition and a, say, uninspiring plot, well, that's another story.

* III becomes much sadder when you see Order 66 being carried out, and you realise that Anakin is just a pawn, he's deceived by a lie, by his own luck, and by his own egoism, but he ends up being just a pawn. Tarkin is "holding his leash" by the time we reach IV, when he wanted to be much more powerful and important than that.

* IV's title as "A New Hope" is much more inspiring if you've just seen III and the mess the Star Wars universe is embroiled in.

* V's changes to the Hologram scene, where Palpatine starts rambling about Luke, even though small, give the movie a sense of cohesiveness with the rest of the saga.

* VI has much more suspense, especially when Palps says that "everything is proceeding as I have foreseen". I mean, if the guy was able to mastermind the downfall of the Republic with shitloads of Jedi, he'll surely be able to wipe the floor with the Rebellion, right?

* Wrong! Because we have been shown (as opposed as having been just told) that Vader used to be Anakin who used to be a good guy, so when he sees his own son, he's got to remember Mace receiving the same sort of "shock treatment" , and then he takes his decision. It becomes much more powerful stuff.

* Lastly, Anakin's Force ghost before the end credits of VI wraps up the whole story pretty neatly, and gives a sense of hope I can't remember feeling last time I saw VI.