Ripple Effects-- Arti is moving the Blog named Arti Ripple Effects to WordPress.com . You all are welcome to stop by my new site and continue to read reviews on movies, arts and entertainment, and books... For a fresher look, please visit:
www.rippleeffects.wordpress.com
See you all there!
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Stranger Than Fiction
Stranger Than Fiction (2006)--I always believe that the script is probably the most important element in a movie. If you've nothing to say, you've got nothing to show, and no story to tell. This may well be an oversimplification. However, watching Stranger Than Fiction, I felt my view confirmed. The excellent writing by Zach Helm handles a serious subject with style and humor. Reminiscence of The Truman Show, Stranger Than Fiction is a fresh and classy treatment of the existential questions of free will and fate. Will Ferrell is Harold Crick, an IRS agent. He lives by himself, eats by himself, and his favorite word is 'integer'. Every morning, he counts his every brushstroke as he brushes his teeth, ties his tie in exactly the same number of seconds, takes exactly the same number of steps to catch his bus. His daily routine runs like a clockwork...and he thinks he is in control of the minutest item of his life. But his secure, mundane world is turned upside down one day as he finds out that his life is being narrated, written by somene else. He is in fact a character in a novel, and what's most devastating is, the author (Emma Thompson) is planning his imminent death. Sunddenly faced with his own impending demise, Harold Crick curses his fate, yells at heaven and protests in vain. Poor Harold is certainly not ready to die, for he hasn't even started to live. With the help of a literature professor, aptly played by Dustin Hoffman, Harold tries to turn a tragedy into a comedy. He soon finds out that although he cannot change his own fate, he can change himself, and he can become a happier person if he chooses to be, despite his ominous fate. In the baker (Maggie Gyllenhaal) whom he audits, he discovers for the first time in his life, love. Little does he know that this new found sentiment is a powerful force that has altered his miopic view so much that in an act of altruistic bravery, he steps right in the path of death and stares fate in the eye. The message of the movie and the subject matters of life and death, fate and free will can easily be perceived as didactic and preachy if not being handled properly, but Stranger Than Fiction has successfully dealt with these issues with light-hearted humor and intelligent dialogues and characterization. Overall, an entertaining work of fiction, or, is it a whimsical portrayal of real life? ... Strange, they're so similar.
~~~3 Ripples
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Josh Groban in Calgary
The finale of my summer of indulgence came with a bang. August 15 is going to be a memorable date. Close to 20,000 of us at the Pengrowth Saddledome, home to the Calgary Flames hockey team, witnessed an electrifying concert brimming with talents. Everyone who had a part in the production of the show, from the set design, the sound, the visual and stage effects, the arrangement of the music, to the performance on stage, had demonstrated superfluous expertise in putting together such a show. It was a non-stop, 2 hours of pure entertainment and inspiration.
The night was opened by "You Are Loved" (Don't Give Up), with Groban rising to the challenge, literally, from beneath the stage to appear in a charismatic presence, to the cheers of a long-awaiting audience. Yes, over an hour had passed since we'd settled in our seats, the first 40 minutes listening to a spirited West African band led by Kidjo, the several-times Grammy nominee. Well prepped and roused up for the main event, the audience was left waiting for another 25 minutes. As soon as the curtain opened I realized it was all worth it. The initial attraction was the tastful and grandeur stage design, and the corresponding video and lighting in the background, as well as movable lighted panels above for added effects. Groban was backed by a 15-member orchestra, a 6-piece band, and at the front, on one side, cellist Vanessa Freebairn-Smith, and the other , violinist Lucia Micarelli.
Other numbers from the album Awake soon followed, including "Mai", "So She Dances", "Machine"... But it was "Un Giorno Per Noi", the adapted theme "A Time For Us" from the movie Romeo and Juliet that convinced the audience early on that it was going to be an unforgetable night. The audience was spellbound by Cellist Vanessa Freebairn-Smith's introduction and accompaniment to the piece. Watching her play answers the question of "Why go to concerts when you can listen to the CD, or your iPod?" You go to a concert to see music in-the-making; you experience the sights and sounds and excitement of a massive conglomeration of talents displayed in producing the sounds you hear on your electronic device. Last night, all 20,000 of us were witnessing art-in-progress. In the same way, Lucia Micarelli's solo rendition leading to Led Zeppelin's "Kashmir" was electrifying. She transformed the music into a visual fusion of exuberant energy and poetic dance.
It was a much more mature, confident, and relaxed Groban last night since his last concert in Calgary three years ago, commanding the stage with his energetic prance from one end to the other, without compromising the quality of his vocal deliverance. Always a crowd pleaser, but last night Groban showed a more mature side than the "every-mother's-dreamson" image. Yes, he's still that clean, wholesome, good humored, and gorgeous looking young man with a mesmerizing and powerful voice. On top of that, Groban also showed he has a social conscience. As clips of his visit to South Africa's impoverished Soweto area were shown, with his cheering on the local children's dance and songs, meeting the historical figure Nelson Mandela, he appealed to his concert audience to support the children charities projected on the giant screen.
The night was opened by "You Are Loved" (Don't Give Up), with Groban rising to the challenge, literally, from beneath the stage to appear in a charismatic presence, to the cheers of a long-awaiting audience. Yes, over an hour had passed since we'd settled in our seats, the first 40 minutes listening to a spirited West African band led by Kidjo, the several-times Grammy nominee. Well prepped and roused up for the main event, the audience was left waiting for another 25 minutes. As soon as the curtain opened I realized it was all worth it. The initial attraction was the tastful and grandeur stage design, and the corresponding video and lighting in the background, as well as movable lighted panels above for added effects. Groban was backed by a 15-member orchestra, a 6-piece band, and at the front, on one side, cellist Vanessa Freebairn-Smith, and the other , violinist Lucia Micarelli.
Other numbers from the album Awake soon followed, including "Mai", "So She Dances", "Machine"... But it was "Un Giorno Per Noi", the adapted theme "A Time For Us" from the movie Romeo and Juliet that convinced the audience early on that it was going to be an unforgetable night. The audience was spellbound by Cellist Vanessa Freebairn-Smith's introduction and accompaniment to the piece. Watching her play answers the question of "Why go to concerts when you can listen to the CD, or your iPod?" You go to a concert to see music in-the-making; you experience the sights and sounds and excitement of a massive conglomeration of talents displayed in producing the sounds you hear on your electronic device. Last night, all 20,000 of us were witnessing art-in-progress. In the same way, Lucia Micarelli's solo rendition leading to Led Zeppelin's "Kashmir" was electrifying. She transformed the music into a visual fusion of exuberant energy and poetic dance.
It was a much more mature, confident, and relaxed Groban last night since his last concert in Calgary three years ago, commanding the stage with his energetic prance from one end to the other, without compromising the quality of his vocal deliverance. Always a crowd pleaser, but last night Groban showed a more mature side than the "every-mother's-dreamson" image. Yes, he's still that clean, wholesome, good humored, and gorgeous looking young man with a mesmerizing and powerful voice. On top of that, Groban also showed he has a social conscience. As clips of his visit to South Africa's impoverished Soweto area were shown, with his cheering on the local children's dance and songs, meeting the historical figure Nelson Mandela, he appealed to his concert audience to support the children charities projected on the giant screen.
"I am not a hero, I am not an angel, I am just a man..." as the lyrics from "In Her Eyes" were sung, Groban was spotlighted at the back of the dome weaving his way in through the enthusiastic crowd, touching the eager, out-stretched hands from both female and male audience. I know, Groban's good guy persona irritates some critics, turning away those who see being cool as being foul. He's even been criticized for being 'conservative'. But tell it to this crowd of thousands who paid up to $125 to see him, seems like 'conservatism' is alive and well.
Later on, Groban also demonstrated his versatility in several numbers in which he played the piano and the drums, like "Remember When It Rained", and "Canto Alla Vita", from his previous albums. The evening ended with a few encores, including the satisfying "You Raised Me Up" and a new piece that has not been recorded on CD. This is the success of a singer performer, you don't need to know a song to enjoy it.
Don't get me wrong, the concert was not without flaws. In several places the lower registers seemed to pose some voice projection glitches for Groban. And towards the end physical exhaustion appeared to affect his act. All in all, such shortfalls paled in comparision to the whole night's captivating performance. To the critics who may have deleted words synonymous with 'wholesome' from their dictionary, I'm glad mine has more words. A most memorable concert experience.
~~~~ 4 Ripples
Later on, Groban also demonstrated his versatility in several numbers in which he played the piano and the drums, like "Remember When It Rained", and "Canto Alla Vita", from his previous albums. The evening ended with a few encores, including the satisfying "You Raised Me Up" and a new piece that has not been recorded on CD. This is the success of a singer performer, you don't need to know a song to enjoy it.
Don't get me wrong, the concert was not without flaws. In several places the lower registers seemed to pose some voice projection glitches for Groban. And towards the end physical exhaustion appeared to affect his act. All in all, such shortfalls paled in comparision to the whole night's captivating performance. To the critics who may have deleted words synonymous with 'wholesome' from their dictionary, I'm glad mine has more words. A most memorable concert experience.
~~~~ 4 Ripples
Monday, August 13, 2007
Summer of Indulgence
In the July 23, 2007 issue of TIME magazine, an article surveyed several prominent writers as to what guilty pleasures they would indulge in if they were to follow their heart's desire in their summer reading. Jane Smiley chose an erotica/sadist novel, Magaret Drabble would read Jules Verne's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Alexander McCall Smith selected Dick Francis, and Joyce Carol Oates opted for Mad Magazine.
Just wondering, what movies would they choose to watch, if Dick Francis and Jules Verne are considered guilty pleasure? As for me, watching old movies that I missed some time in my past, and there are a lot, became my summer indulgence. Guilty pleasure? Don't think I need to feel guilty about them, however, they do represent a quirky and offbeat sort. Here they are, with my hindsight critique...now flashback to:
1986 Pretty in Pink
Why I missed out on preppy movies like this one, I haven't a clue. But, it's more than just nostalgic viewing them now. Why, because I'm discovering for the first time Andrew McCarthy, Molly Ringwald, and, yes, James Spader in his youthful days. The power of young love driven by hormonal surge and pure fantasy or infactuation could still be no match for societal norms and peer pressure. Rich boy, poor girl, two starcrossed lovers separated by a mere railway track, a demarkation of social inequality in wealth, opportunities, future...Oh, we've seen them before, in the classic Love Story, and the like. But it's always a treat looking at young, fresh faces like McCarthy and Ringwald, and ... Spader... who cares he looks like he's been repeating his senior year in high school a few times. If it's a miscast, it doesn't bother me a bit, because watching Pretty in Pink is like licking a strawberry ice cream cone on a hot summer day, it's indulgence enough.
1987 Less Than Zero
McCarthy and Spader reprised the next year to make this movie, but this time, Robert Downey Jr. stole the show. Less Than Zero probably is one of the classic drug addiction movies. The story takes place again, among the decadent world of rich, young Californian high school grads. McCarthy, a college freshman came home after his first term of college to find his buddy RDJ helplessly hooked on cocaine and deeply in debt. Together with his girlfriend Gertz, who has shifted her attention to RDJ since he left, McCarthy tried to rescue his friend from his pathetic downfall. This time, Spader acted more like his age, as a slick and manipulative drug dealer. Watching a young man self-destruct was not an enjoyable experience. The pleasure in watching this movie though is that one sees the pivotal performance of a superb actor hitting his stride and gaining momentum in his career. As one critic said, this movie put RDJ on the map. Compared to Maggie Cheung in Clean, which I reviewed some time ago, RDJ comes out a much stronger contender.
1996 2 Days in the Valley
This is what I call indulgence, three Spader movies in a row. This one is a much more interesting mix of characters. Watching it reminds me of "Crash" (2004) where a group of seemingly unattached characters would finally be stringed together as the story unfolds, coming to a brilliant and climatic ending. But of course, 2DITV is not Crash, it does not convey a serious message like racism, it just...purely...entertains, pure summer fun. What do a mild-mannered hit man, a female Olympic skier, a snobbish art dealer, a cold blooded killer, a loving widow, a down-and-out movie director, and two vice cops have in common? They don't, and this is exactly what the movie is saying, hauntingly. 48 hours in the San Fernando Valley, CA, could bring about a lot of changes in these lives. We cross paths with people who may have nothing to do with our lives every day, and yet as circumstances unfold, we are entangled into a web of human relations and coincidents. Our best bet is to take the right step, at least that we can have some control. The superb acting and the intricate plot make it a fun and wild ride. As the saying goes, this movie puts Charlize Theron on the map. Spader as a bespectacled, icy, heartless killer? Seeing is believing. Great summer viewing pleasure.
1997 The Ice Storm
I think this is probably the best Ang Lee movie I've seen. The Ice Storm, a story about the dysfunctional relationships within two families in 1973 suburban Conneticut, was Ang Lee's attempt to prove his versatility after making the 19th Century Austen classic Sense and Sensibility. He has painted a sensitive and poignant portrait of suburban living, or anywhere living, of people struggling to deal with the ennui of superficial existence. Adults exchange spouses as a game, the young seek sexual experiences, or experiment with drugs. Like a fly hitting the window again and again as it frantically tries to escape, the characters in this movie spin deeper and deeper into a meaningless blackhole. That is, until the Ice Storm cometh. It takes the elements, something greater than themselves, to shake them up and face the futility of their actions, and lead them to a stark awakening. Such is the redemptive power of the Ice Storm, a metaphor for divine intervention, marking the turning point in the lives of these characters. A great cast including Joan Allen, Kevin Kline, Sigourney Weaver, and Elijah Wood makes this film an enjoyable treat, despite the serious subject matter.
Just wondering, what movies would they choose to watch, if Dick Francis and Jules Verne are considered guilty pleasure? As for me, watching old movies that I missed some time in my past, and there are a lot, became my summer indulgence. Guilty pleasure? Don't think I need to feel guilty about them, however, they do represent a quirky and offbeat sort. Here they are, with my hindsight critique...now flashback to:
1986 Pretty in Pink
Why I missed out on preppy movies like this one, I haven't a clue. But, it's more than just nostalgic viewing them now. Why, because I'm discovering for the first time Andrew McCarthy, Molly Ringwald, and, yes, James Spader in his youthful days. The power of young love driven by hormonal surge and pure fantasy or infactuation could still be no match for societal norms and peer pressure. Rich boy, poor girl, two starcrossed lovers separated by a mere railway track, a demarkation of social inequality in wealth, opportunities, future...Oh, we've seen them before, in the classic Love Story, and the like. But it's always a treat looking at young, fresh faces like McCarthy and Ringwald, and ... Spader... who cares he looks like he's been repeating his senior year in high school a few times. If it's a miscast, it doesn't bother me a bit, because watching Pretty in Pink is like licking a strawberry ice cream cone on a hot summer day, it's indulgence enough.
1987 Less Than Zero
McCarthy and Spader reprised the next year to make this movie, but this time, Robert Downey Jr. stole the show. Less Than Zero probably is one of the classic drug addiction movies. The story takes place again, among the decadent world of rich, young Californian high school grads. McCarthy, a college freshman came home after his first term of college to find his buddy RDJ helplessly hooked on cocaine and deeply in debt. Together with his girlfriend Gertz, who has shifted her attention to RDJ since he left, McCarthy tried to rescue his friend from his pathetic downfall. This time, Spader acted more like his age, as a slick and manipulative drug dealer. Watching a young man self-destruct was not an enjoyable experience. The pleasure in watching this movie though is that one sees the pivotal performance of a superb actor hitting his stride and gaining momentum in his career. As one critic said, this movie put RDJ on the map. Compared to Maggie Cheung in Clean, which I reviewed some time ago, RDJ comes out a much stronger contender.
1996 2 Days in the Valley
This is what I call indulgence, three Spader movies in a row. This one is a much more interesting mix of characters. Watching it reminds me of "Crash" (2004) where a group of seemingly unattached characters would finally be stringed together as the story unfolds, coming to a brilliant and climatic ending. But of course, 2DITV is not Crash, it does not convey a serious message like racism, it just...purely...entertains, pure summer fun. What do a mild-mannered hit man, a female Olympic skier, a snobbish art dealer, a cold blooded killer, a loving widow, a down-and-out movie director, and two vice cops have in common? They don't, and this is exactly what the movie is saying, hauntingly. 48 hours in the San Fernando Valley, CA, could bring about a lot of changes in these lives. We cross paths with people who may have nothing to do with our lives every day, and yet as circumstances unfold, we are entangled into a web of human relations and coincidents. Our best bet is to take the right step, at least that we can have some control. The superb acting and the intricate plot make it a fun and wild ride. As the saying goes, this movie puts Charlize Theron on the map. Spader as a bespectacled, icy, heartless killer? Seeing is believing. Great summer viewing pleasure.
1997 The Ice Storm
I think this is probably the best Ang Lee movie I've seen. The Ice Storm, a story about the dysfunctional relationships within two families in 1973 suburban Conneticut, was Ang Lee's attempt to prove his versatility after making the 19th Century Austen classic Sense and Sensibility. He has painted a sensitive and poignant portrait of suburban living, or anywhere living, of people struggling to deal with the ennui of superficial existence. Adults exchange spouses as a game, the young seek sexual experiences, or experiment with drugs. Like a fly hitting the window again and again as it frantically tries to escape, the characters in this movie spin deeper and deeper into a meaningless blackhole. That is, until the Ice Storm cometh. It takes the elements, something greater than themselves, to shake them up and face the futility of their actions, and lead them to a stark awakening. Such is the redemptive power of the Ice Storm, a metaphor for divine intervention, marking the turning point in the lives of these characters. A great cast including Joan Allen, Kevin Kline, Sigourney Weaver, and Elijah Wood makes this film an enjoyable treat, despite the serious subject matter.
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Curse of the Golden Flower
Curse of the Golden Flower (2006)--The story took place in 928 A.D., during the Tang Dynasty in China; the movie was produced in 2006, released in January, 2007. Over a thousand years have passed, and times sure have changed the art of storytelling. What Zhang Yimou has constructed is a postmodern fusion of literary classics and cinematic productions: King Lear, Hamlet, MacBeth, Caligula, The Lord of the Rings, and yes, even Braveheart, concocted in a Chinese imperial court setting. Those with the appetite for a smorgasboard will not be disappointed to find something that they like, but COTGF is no gourmet cuisine. Zhang has aptly depicted the decadence behind the facade of opulence and glamour with his trademark exaggerated colours in cinematography. Under the skin of gold and jade hides the rotten flesh of incest, treason, deceit, murder, and rebellion; but one begs to ask, so what's the difference between this story and others throughout history, or even just movie history? Hailed as the most expensive movie ever produced in China, Zhang seemed to have answered with the massive visual effects of a thousand real life, spear wielding actors in armour (plus the additional help of computer-generated images I assume), swarming the palace gates as ants, the elaborate set designs, and the choreography of uniformity, from the female courtiers to the massive foot soldiers. One gets the feeling that the movie is a spectacle made for foreign markets, and with Zhang himself being the chief director of the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, COTGF seems like a dry run for the programs. Nevertheless, kudos go to the actors whose intense performances have supported the storytelling, and newcomer singer-turned-actor Jay Chou has held his ground in front of veterans Gong and Chow. The ironic outcome though is that the intimate, authentic art of storytelling has been overshadowed by the sights and sounds of ostentatious movie-making.
~~1/2 Ripples
~~1/2 Ripples
Thursday, June 7, 2007
Mr. Brooks
Mr. Brooks (2007)-- What a departure from his past filmography! Mr. Brooks is Kevin Costner's attempt to cross the great divide, from the heroic and noble to the villainous, from Eliot Ness, Mafia annihilator to Earl Brooks, serial killer. Wait, did he cross that divide or has he got one foot on each side, straddling in a precarious position with shifting identity? Maybe that's the point this movie is trying to get across. Mr. Brooks is a successful businessman, philanthropist, loving husband and father, and at the same time, serial killer. What an interesting theme to explore, but ironically, the purpose seems to be marred by the attempts at making it work. The film itself is a schizophrenic struggle between classic Hitchcockian psychological thriller and dark humor with a contemporary flare, thanks to comedian Dane Cook fanning the flame. William Hurt's role as Brooks' alter ego also is both effective and self-defeating. At times he is the tempter, at other times he is the companion and friend, still other times he is the clairvoyant, predicting the future...Seems like he too has crossed that line from reality to fantasy. The action sequence though is crisp and captivating, particularly in the kidnapping scene of detective Tracy Atwood, played by Demi Moore. Unfortunately, the intersection of Costner and Moore is a story line that the film fails to dwell into, one that could enhance both character development and certainly thicken the plot. Such lack is compensated by the twists in the story, and the ending is thought provoking. Mr. Costner, nice try at being nasty, but somehow your look and demeanor betray your attempt. This movie makes me appreciate all the more the many heroic and redemptive roles you have played in the past. Having said that, I look forward to the new turn of film making you're venturing out into and I must say, for love of the game, go for it.
~~1/2 Ripples
~~1/2 Ripples
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Away From Her
Away From Her (2006)--How can you make a good short story even better? ... By turning it into a screenplay written by an equally sensitive and passionate writer, and then, through her own talented, interpretive eye, re-creates it into a visual narrative. Along the way, throw in a few veteran actors who are so passionate about what the script is trying to convey that they themselves embody the message. Such 'coincidents' are all happening in the movie Away From Her. Sarah Polley has made her directorial debut with a most impressive and memorable feat that I'm sure things will go even better down her career path. What she has composed on screen speaks much more poignantly than words on a page, calling forth sentiments that we didn't even know we had. Julie Christie and Gordon Pinsent stir up thoughts in us that we'd rather bury: how much are we willing to give up for love, or, how would we face the imminence of our loved ones' and our own mental and physical demise. Based on the story by Alice Munro, 'The Bear Came Over the Mountain', Polley brings out the theme of unconditional love not by your typical Hollywood's hot, young, and sexy on screen, but aging actors in their 60's and 70's. It may not be as pleasurable to watch wrinkled faces hugging and kissing, or a man and a woman in bed, bearing age spots and all, but such scenes effectively beg the question: why feel uncomfortable? Why does love has to be synonymous with youth, beauty, and romance? It is even more agonizing to watch how far Grant is willing to go solely for love of Fiona. Lucky for us, both writers spare us the truly painful at the end. It is through persistent, selfless giving that one ultimately receives; and however meager and fleeting that reward may seem, it is permanence in the eyes of love. And it is through the lucid vision of a youthful, 28-year-old writer/director, that such ageless love is vividly portrayed....Oh, the paradoxes in life.
~~~ 3 Ripples
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