MOVING ON

I would have seen this film on the big screen but something abrupt happened with the relationship I had with a previous regular date who I taught would be one of my enduring partners here in New York City for some time. But we parted ways, which led to my decision to watch this on its DVD format during 2 weekends when I was doing my part-time job taking care of a retired elderly man. I heard about this film from other unusual sources, being someone who loves unusual movies from other countries. And so I sought out ways to finally watch it as soon as I managed to get over the grief over the loss of the presence of someone I had always wanted to be with me.  My efforts were soon rewarded; I wasn't expecting an ending for a film as soporific as this one. Be aware that this is not an easy film to watch because of its many long moments when no dialogues nor monologues could be heard. You'd wonder what's happening and you'll get to think about other things that are more im

Why was I enthralled by this film by Noah Baumbach? I think it's probably due to very close similarities to some good people I know whose characters (or characterizations based on real life characters) have been presented in this movie. The principal character's named 'Frances Ha' and she's an artist (doing dance, which is probably the most challenging field of the arts that an artist may want to pursue) who continues to develop and share her art and craft to those willing to watch her perform, allow her to perform, and grant her their time to grow and develop as an artist. But a lot of practical realities in life get in the way of her life such that she seemed unable to bring her art to the fore. People around her mistake her for somebody else, other than being a dance artist. Most probably, these people have their own share of troubles themselves with what they want to do with their respective lives. And we the viewers get enthralled (or annoyed) with what they d

I saw the posting on a link to the late Philippine National Artist Lino Brocka's "Maynila: Sa Mga Kuko ng Liwanag" from one of my Facebook friends (I personally know the guy, actually) and was prodded to watch the movie, in installments due to so many distractions while doing my various works, on my laptop. Bear with me and brace yourself as I share with you a few of my spill-over thoughts about this hauntingly beautiful film, which could be probably one of the best films ever made. Among so many reasons, it talks but never actually verbalizes it, about a certain kind of innocence that each one of us who grew up to adulthood is familiar with and can only look back to check with a tinge of liberating sadness in our hearts. I've seen this film many times many years ago, the most particularly memorable of which took place during my formal schooling years  when we were required to watch certain movies and write brief movie reviews (thus, to help us become more aware o

I heard about this movie from another good friend who posted something positive on his Facebook profile, and I was attracted to its features I would see once in a while on TV before the Academy Awards. I was curious to discover how Jennifer Lawrence won an Academy award for the kind of acting she delivered in this movie where she played a widowed, slutty-in-a-previous-life, an inspired dancer and a most loving and intelligent character you won't expect seeing in this kind of romantic comedy movie. Of course, you'd see the hallmarks of a commercially made Hollywood movie in this one, but you got to go out of your way to watch this film one of these days. I saw it with a good friend at the Angelika one weekend night, where I saw so many people lining up for another movie, ('Trance', another movie by the one who brought you 'Slumdog Millionaire' and 'Trainspotting'). I almost thought of exchanging our tickets so that we would watch instead the other m