Tom Hanks

Close to making its début on theatres this weekend, Cloud Atlas (2012), the website Rotten Tomatoes just published a post with Tom Hanks's best work. (click here). 

That - and a facebook conversation this week - inspired me to write something about the magnificent Mr. Hanks.

Tom Hanks is by far my favourite actor since I was a little kid. I remember, being about 8/9 years old and watching on a regular basis films such as Big, Turner & Hooch, Splash, The Man With One Red Shoe,  Joe Versus The Volcano, Punchline, The Burbs, A League of their Own and Sleepless in Seattle. I also remember his guest role as Michael J Fox's uncle in the TV show Family Ties.

I never saw Bosom Buddies, a TV show that launched Hanks into his stardom path... but I went the distance, going back and forward, trying and watch all of his filmography so I could almost feel like an expert in his career, while at the same time, creating sort of a spiritual bond with someone that I felt like I knew.

I was sure he was special. He had a certain charisma, different from anyone else. And yes, even though a lot of what I'd seen was during my childhood, I was already sunk deep in to the cinema world, due to my Mom's influence, therefore, I felt like I was able to "pass judgement" when it came to "the movies". I had something to say.

His dramatic roles came as an exclamation point in his career. I became certain that he was head and shoulders above anyone else. Many of his movies are among my favourites, being two - Philadelphia and Forrest Gump - in my all-time top 5! Keep in mind, both these films granted him two back-to-back Oscars in 1993 and 1994 (click on the links for acceptance speeches).

My list of favourites goes on and includes Big, Apollo 13, Green Mile, Saving Private Ryan, Road to Perdition, Cast Away, Catch Me If You Can, The Terminal all of which I possess in my precious DVD collection.

Even for what some is an average role or movie, for me resonated in a different way. They are all linked to memories and feelings. I remember laughing hard, being scared or crying like there was no tomorrow...  All to Tom Hank's orchestrated skill. So, before I leave you with the videos below, just want to acknowledge how late this post is. I should have done this a long time ago, but at the same time, I'm sure this man doesn't need any introductions and most of you are fans just like I am. If not, please educate yourselves into watching his body of work. As he puts it in his first Inside The Actors Studio's appearance:

They last forever, you know, these movies.

MJ vs Kobe - Part II

Click here (zoom it) and let the facts speak for themselves

Who's better?

When football meets a great song

Not my typical thing to upload a compilation of goals in my blog, but thought the combination of We Were Promised Jetpacks's track It's Thunder and It's Lightning with last week's best goals... was just incredible. Thought the track suited perfectly the pace of the action... but truth be told, maybe in my mind anything would blend in with their songs.

I've easily became a big fan of the Scottish band, after listening their first album These Four Walls - one of my all time favourites.

Anyway, hope you can enjoy - as I did - the following compilation of superb football finishing, as well as the soundtrack.

Freaking Out The Neighborhood

by: Mac DeMarco

Looper (2012)

In his third directorial effort, Rian Johnson was able to not only keep the same high level of quality film-making, but even improve it... and he did so, by stepping new grounds.  

Looper (2012) comes across like a Sci-Fi movie that allows people to reflect in the art of story-telling and also in it's clear and profound message. It's definitely a project that will sustain itself as one of the greats of 2012 that will certainly be held as a cult classic. It's that good! 

But even thought great part of the success comes from directing and scripting skills, a lot has to be said about the casting.
In my mind, it would be very difficult for Looper to enjoy it's acclaimed status if not for the efforts of Bruce Willis and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Willis does what he does best, in a role that looked like it was written with only him in mind. It's pure, classic, vintage Bruce Willis in action... including good acting and terrific lines. Gordon-Levitt, joins Johnson once more, after working with the American director in Brick (2005). Even thought this is not a kind of character that we are used to see JGL portray, it just comes to show how versatile he can be. 

Hopefully we will get to see a growing relationship between both the actor and director since working together is becoming a synonymous of great cinema.   

In conclusion, if you haven't seen it already, please make your best effort to go watch it while it's still in display at your local cinemas and let me know if you agree that it's one of the best features 2012 has to offer.

Away FRM U

by: Oberhofer

I'm trying Jacques Audiard... I really am!

The posters above are the two latest Audiard's movies that I've seen... Both acclaimed by critics and audiences and both seen under great expectations.

For some reason, I'm unable to "LOVE" Jacques Audiard's movies. Un Prophète (2009) - although good - didn't satisfy my expectations... and now De battre mon cœur s'est arrêté (2005) - which I just saw - followed the same route. I really wanted to love both of them, but they felt short...

Somehow I feel guilty... Like I wasn't able to understand or appreciate the art of one of the best French film-makers around. That's a compliment that I easily concede, even thought I don't come across as a big fan of his work.

Very soon I will see his most recent project De rouille et d'os (2012) featuring Marion Cotillard in the leading role. Let's hope this can help me change my mind about Monsieur Audiard.

Mister Romney's Neighborhood (Jimmy Fallon)

Hitchcock (trailer)

Coming out in February, 2013...

Martha Marcy May Marlene (2011)

Martha Marcy May Marlene (2012) is haunting and suffocating...

Just simply dark and twisted with a terrific performance from lead Elizabeth Olsen

Needles & Pins

by: Life in Film

Casting Jean Dujardin...

Jean Dujardin's Villain Auditions from Jean Dujardin

Les Petits Mouchoirs (2010)

I remember when this film came out in 2010. It was a few months before I came to London. I was in  my local shopping mall looking at the posters while deciding what to see on the cinema. Les Petits Mouchoirs - a.k.a Little White Lies - looked to be a French romantic-comedy. Don't know why, but that's the idea I got from the expressions of the actors on the poster (not the one here on display). 

Fast forward two years later, the movie was long forgot and only by a friend's suggestion did it came to my mind again, but even thought I had it in my computer, it remained unseen for a long period. This was until a week ago, when I brought the name up, a French girl highly recommended it.Adding the suggestions, to my initial curiosity and the rate on iMDB, it was clear I needed to see it. So me and a couple of friends took the time to watch it together, knowing only that the film had it's comedy moments, but also it's share of drama. 

Directed by Guillaume Canet, Les Petits Mouchoirs revolve a group of friends who decided to take their usual summer vacation, even after one of their closest members lies between life in death in the hospital  after having a big accident.

As the story starts to build up, I believe we - the viewers - could all relate to a few characters and moments. If not ourselves, at least we could picture someone close to us in that same spot. That's a good sign, meaning there's a genuine feel to the project, strong enough to drag us into the plot and get involved.

Like we were warned, there were many times of joy and times of sadness, all done with subtlety, charm and a lot of heart. Credit must be given to actor Canet, who seems to have a natural thing behind the cameras, as his few long features are mostly good. But the French director could not have done it all, without the support of a magnificent cast that include the likes of Marion Cotillard, François Cluzet and Jean Dujardin (just to name the most well known actors).

Read somewhere the casting was strange and stereotypical. Don't believe a word! It truly made a difference and I stand by it. Great pleasure to see all of them interact at ease and with such chemistry. The only thing I would point out is maybe it was slightly long... but that becomes almost irrelevant due to the high quality of Les Petits Mouchoirs.

All and all, another win for French cinema, more and more my favourite line of movie production across Europe. 

Harder Than You Think

by: Public Enemy

I don't think I will ever be ready to hear this song again, after a huge "overdose" during the Paralympics...
... Nonetheless ...

... It's a great tune!

Kick, Push

by: Lupe Fiasco

La Faute à Fidel (2006)

La Faute à Fidel (2006)...

... What a wonderful film!

Just one more example - among many others - of how good is international cinema, especially in France. In this last year, I have seen a lot of films produced in the country and most of them were of high quality. In fact, lately I've noticed how my DVD collection has been growing with French cinema. 

Compelling story, terrific acting and a great surprise from a very young actress - who after making her début with a terrific performance - seized to appear in other projects. Did some research - not an extensive one - to find out her whereabouts and came up with nothing. I'm curious to know what led the young actress to give up on acting, considering critics and audience where enchanted by her portrayal of a 9-year-old girl caught in the mist of revolution and high ideals connected to communism, Cuba and Fidel Castro. Too much for anyone at such a young age I would say...

Rotten Tomatoes - my main guide / advisor in times of need - said:
"Blame it on Fidel" is a charming comedy of manners, class, and politics, elevated by a remarkable performance from lead child actor Nina Kervel.

A must!

Hot Chip - In Our Heads (2012)

I would say it's very difficult - even almost impossible - for this able to not make my top 10 of 2012. 

Hot Chip did an amazing job with their fifth project In Our Heads (2012), even going the extra mile to impress me, a "not so much" electronic music lover.

Throughout their 11 tunes, each and every one was able to grab me in a unique way... Funny enough, their main single Night and Day was the less convincing, while Let Me Be Him took the number one spot in my favourite tracks.

Greetings From Tim Buckley - Trailer

If the trailer does not suffice, read this small preview article taken from the magazine NME, on what and what not to expect from the upcoming biopic movie.

American Reunion (2012)

This was one of the many films I watched on my way to Rio de Janeiro (Brazil). With plenty of time in my hands, I looked through the selection of movies British Airways had and after seeing American Reunion (2012) I had no doubt where I was going to start.

It had been a long time since American Wedding (2003) - the third and last instalment of the series until the "reunion"- a movie which seemed to conclude the story of the group of friends from East Great Falls High. It never occurred to me that a "Reunion" would be a great plot to get them all together once more. Maybe I was too distracted with the mediocre "direct-to-dvd" sequels that came out, only to destroy the American Pie's legacy among my generation. You can say they are very approachable to various generations, but I believe mine was one to be more infatuated with the series.

So there I was. Getting together with all those characters like they were my friends. It almost seemed like I was part of the gang, as I felt more and more nostalgic with each scene. I can honestly say this was a very satisfying finale to the series, and even thought there is still potential to work on future projects, I like to believe everyone involved in American Pie is proud of their achievments and will let this be the "perfect ending" for Jim, Oz, Kevin, Finch, Stiffler and many others more, who have contributed so much to my popular culture.



Don't Turn Out The Light

by: Hacienda

Coldplay - Mylo Xyloto (2012)

I know this is completely out of date, but bare with me. I only listened the Mylo Xyloto (2012) slightly more than a month ago and even thought the time has passed for me to write something based on a fresh idea, I simply could not just let this one slide.

Since it's release, a lot has been said about Coldplay's latest album. That is too pop, that the British band have drifted away from "their genre", that they have become excessively commercial and - most shockingly - that they have lost what gave their music a "quality stamp", meaning, they lost their edge... they are no longer good.

Well my friends, I beg to differ. I will agree with a few comments...
Yes, in this album their went with a bigger pop approach, making their sound very commercial, however, that's not to say they have made bad music just because Chris Martin and company decided to go with a different route. For some, change can be bad, while for others it can be good... It's exciting to see a group coming together year upon year, trying different elements and melodies. That means they are trying to evolve, to progress... all this leaving their comfort zone. It's easy to get labelled with a specific kind of sound and then - for good or bad - stick with it. Chances are, if you were successful in your first try, you will attract the same audience the next. But I say, to still have success while going for something different... that's the real challenge. I have to admit, sometimes - maybe even most time - I'm not a big fan of big changes. Look what happened to Bloc Party. Their third album even went as far to sound like it was made by another band. Why? Why would they change their tune - which was mostly indie rock - into something more twisted and electronic? In this case, maybe if "it ain't broke, then don't try to fix it".  But then again, if we just settle with what is safe, will we ever see progress? Not just talking about the bands themselves, but the audience itself. 

We could go on and on to talk about this... loads of pros and cons, but the point I was trying to make here is that Coldplay went out of their way to do something different - regardless if they were looking for a change of settings or just to make more money - and it came out good. I myself have given up on pop melodies a long time ago, but every so often, something comes up with the power to lure me into their world. Coldplay achieved just that with another great album.

That's my take...
... for what it's worth!

Closed for Holiday

Im guessing you have noticed the blog hasn't had a post for some time now. Worry not... It's just until the 21st of September.

See you soon!

Lotus Plaza - Spooky Action At a Distance (2012)

This is an album that brings me closer to Portugal! 

Not because the music was soundtrack to my life there, but because - somehow - it just takes me to summer days, evening at the beach, days out in festivals listening to great bands, having a nice cold Sagres, submersed in interesting and fun conversations... Outdoor barbecues, partying and going out for dinner... bowl of Santini... joking around in the pool... playing some football and after lying around in the grass. I could stay here for ages just naming favorite things to do when I'm back home. 

God, I miss it so much. Miss everything about it...

Any album that is able to do this, to put me in a nostalgic mood, then it must be good!

Thanks Lotus Plaza.

The Great Escape (1963)

The Great Escape (1963) is one of the best movies I've seen recently...

A must see classic that generated a cult following and inspired films from our time.