The Vertical Hour

To anyone living in London, I recommend you to go to the Park Theater in Finsbury Park and watch the play "The Vertical Hour", written by Sir David Hare. Very interesting and well acted! 

Gone Girl (2014)

Gone Girl:

One of the best things I’ve seen this year! Hands down!

I remember leaving the room and tweeting right away: 

“My head is still spinning! I mean, what a ride!! By far one the best things I've seen all year! My heart is still pacing”

It’s funny… 24 hours later I still feel the same way almost as the adrenaline is still being pumped into my body.

David Fincher, like he so often does, play with your head… over and over again, until you don’t know who you are any more.

The key to its success (or part of it) is the script based on Gillian Flynn novels, who actually ended up helping Fincher with the adaptation.

Add fantastic performances by Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike (as well as the supporting cast with Tyler Perry, Neil Patrick Harris, Carry Coon, Kim Dickens) and you have a masterpiece in your hands.

It's hard to give it a full-on review without entailing crucial moments. I for one, prefer to just state whether its worth it or not... and trust me… it will leave you on the edge of your seat. It will flip you upside down more than once… it will build anxiety, anger, relieved with occasional laughter and some sense of rightness. But ultimately, it will linger long after the credits roll. You will talk about it afterwards. Discuss it, digest it and then talk some more.

It is that good!

Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961)

Saw it very recently and it is exactly as its referred to: A must see classic!

Directed by the legendary Blake Edwards, with Audrey Hepburn and George Peppard (yes, the actor who played John "Hannibal" Smith on the 80's TV show A-Team), it still remains fresh and entertaining up until this day.

In other words, a timeless masterpiece!

Force Majeure - Trailer

Looks "super"

Love Is Strange - Trailer

The End Has No End

by: The Strokes

My Old Lady - Trailer

Born to Run (cover)

Frankie Goes to Hollywood perform a fantastic Bruce Springsteen cover

"Breaking Bad" - Mr Men style

The Judge - Trailer

Wish I Was Here - Trailer

Desperately want to see this!

Alemanha, Portugal e Brasil

Há aí muito Português ressabiado que ainda não recuperou da derrota com a Alemanha. E que pior, guardou rancor contra os Brasileiros (uma nação de milhões) por causa de uns patetas que gozaram connosco através comunicação social. Acham por isso que o Pais tem de pagar... e hoje vejo as centenas comentários a dar escáfia neles (os Brasileiros isto é).

Não percebo!

Eu falo de quem está no Rio a cobrir a Copa...

A grande maioria dos Brasileiros que conheci e vejo cá, adoram Portugal, veneram o Cristiano e apoiam a nossa Seleccão quase com a mesma paixão que apoiam o Brasil.
Depois penso nos meus amigos Brasileiros (que são muitos). Mais uma vez, grande maioria apoia Portugal...

Como se isso não bastasse, penso nos vários Brasileiros que jogaram em Portugal e que representaram os nossos clubes. Naturalmente como Benfiquista, não posso deixar de pensar no David Luiz que ontem teve a infelicidade de usar a braçadeira na derrota mais pesada do seu Pais. O David, alem da pessoa extraordinária que é, é também um craque que deu muito ao Benfica, e como tal, só quero ver a carreira dele cheia de sucesso... quase como se fosse uma forma de o ver compensado por tudo aquilo que fez de águia ao peito. Diria que o mesmo se aplica ao Hulk que tanto deu ao Porto e a outros quantos que deram alegrias ao Sporting ao longo dos anos.
Fim ao cabo, acredito que não deveria deixar de apoiar ou perder o respeito simplesmente porque uns otários da Folha de S.Paulo ou o que quer que seja, andaram a dizer coisas que não deviam. Eu também fiquei maluco de raiva quando vi online... mas não posso cair no erro de condenar milhões por causa de uns patetas.

Eu cá sou fã do Brasil... adoro os jogadores, adoro o futebol, mas acima de tudo adoro o País, a forma como me receberam e os amigos que fiz pelos anos fora.
Sinceramente, no meio de tudo isto, mais do que o lado desportivo, fico triste pelas repercussões a nivel emocional que isto vai ter... numa altura em que mais do que nunca precisavam de alegrias e não de uma derrota tão pesada (que no País do futebol é tão sofrida).

Enfim, não que vos interesse muito, but these are my two cents on it.

Força Brasil!

The Raid (2011)

Amazing action flick. 

Yeah...

A-ma-zing!

Strasbourg Saint Denis (Live)

by: Roy Hargrove Quintet

Short Term 12 (2013)

Short Term 12 (2013) is a movie directed by newcomer Destin Daniel Cretton. It was based on his own experiences working at a group facility for troubled teenagers, which lead him to write and direct a short-movie produced in 2009, eventually inspiring this long feature. 

Like always, I do not wish to give much away… especially with this one. I would prefer if you would experience this movie the same way I did, which was by not knowing anything whatsoever about the storyline. Please try your best to not watch the trailer and just rely on pure faith that this movie will have an impact. 

Those of you who trust my judgement and taste in movies, please watch this. Terrific indie-film with talented young cast, wonderful directing / scripting and awesome soundtrack. 

You will not regret this.

Wish I Was Here - Trailer

Looks so good!

The Grand Seduction - Trailer

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty - Soundtrack

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty Soundtrack

1. Jose Gonzalez "Step Out"
2. Of Monsters and Men "Dirty Paws"
3. Jose Gonzalez "Stay Alive"
4. Junip "Far Away"
5. Junip "Don't Let It Pass"
6. Rogue Wave "Lake Michigan"
7. Jack Johnson "Escape (The Pina Colada Song)"
8. Bahamas featuring The Weather Station "Don't You Want Me"
9. Rogue Valley "The Wolves & The Ravens"
10. David Bowie (Mitty Mix) Featuring Kristen Wiig "Space Oddity"
11. Jose Gonzalez "#9 Dream"
12. Grace Mitchell "Maneater"

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013)

 

I remember watching The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013) trailer for the first time and I was completely blown away. The visuals were just remarkably beautiful and hypnotizing and the whole concept just drew me closer to watching it when possible.

The whole idea of having a man being constantly overtaken by his daydreaming just reminded me so much of my own character (yeah, such a narcissist thing of my part), because I too struggled with that problem growing up. In fact, I still do (even if to a lesser degree)...
There are times where I completely switch off, or better yet, "zone out" as they keep referring to it in the movie masterfully directed by Ben Stiller.

As far as I know, this project was long due, with several producers and directors being attached to do it over the years, but only in 2011 it was finally given the green light with Stiller at the helm of the movie as director and lead actor.

Based on a 1939 short novel by James Thurber, its first movie adaptation came out in less then ten years (1947 to be exact) and despite some similarities, this original and now "remake" share some common trades in essence, but still holding two different identities. That's good I guess, since this newer version touches different elements and sides of the human being.

With Stiller leading the way, alongside with Kristen Wiig, Adam Scott, Shirley MacLaine, Kathryn Hahn and Sean Penn, Life magazine employee Walter Mitty leads us to look deep into our lives and see whether or not we've been making the best of it. It challenges us to dream higher and chase our most deepest wishes with complete disregard for what others may think. It reminds us that if there's anyone stopping us from accomplishing our goals, its ourselves!

Yes...the movie has received mixed reviews by critics and even though I can agree - at certain stages - that the film can lack some substance, I honestly think that Stiller through his directing and acting efficiently passes a wonderful message and moves the audience into self-consciously evaluating years gone by and also looking at years ahead. When a movie can lift the viewers spirits like that, I call this mission accomplished!

All and all, it's a wonderful movie with some of the most beautiful and creative sequences I've seen with outrageously gorgeous Icelandic landscapes serving as a huge part of the background/setting.

The scenes where Ben Stiller plays football with Sean Penn (who plays a small, but vital role to the movie's unfolding) and the downhill skating through the roads of Iceland are just breathtaking, working superbly with great music as soundtrack.

That takes us to another big... let me rephrase this.... to another HUGE part of this film which is the outstanding soundtrack (well deserving of a post of its own) with names such as Jose Gonzalez (Step Out is super appropriate and just stands out), Junip, Of Monsters and Men and David Bowie (with his classic Space Oddity being sang by actress Kristin Wiig), just to name a few...

It's a movie that dreamers everywhere will surely enjoy!

RIP Ultimate Warrior (1959 – 2014)

We Won't Stop - Miley, Jimmy and The Roots

If only she did things like this on a regular basis...

Palo Alto - trailer

Mistaken For Strangers - The Documentary

Existential Bummer

Best prank call... EVER