Pic of the Day

Evelyne Brochu in Tom a La Ferme.

Her

Written and Directed by Spike Jonze.

This may sound completely off the point, but I’ll start this way anyway.

I have this recurring dream where I meet Angelina Jolie and every time I do I desperately want to say a few simple words – thank you. I want to thank her for everything. A few days ago I dreamed exactly this and what I remember from it is she saying to me that I was lucky. I don’t know why but I’m thinking of this today after viewing Her.

Theodore is a lonesome man hurting after a painful heart break as he goes through his divorce. Her is set in the future, right from the beginning seems like a positive and clean future, where the sky is clear, everyone seems pretty regular and not alienish. They still don’t have one eye, are bold and pale. Humans are stable, like everyone seems to have a job and such. The mails are still opened with a metal key. And on I could go. Technology is adapted to humans, the same as today. Theodore is not really trying hard enough to become emotionally available, not with online dates nor face to face dates until he decides to try an OS (an Operation System, the world’s first intelligent operating system,  designed to meet with the human’s needs). This will be the new challenge for humans and Theodore will be a part of a group that will fall in love with his OS.

Theo’s OS is called Samantha. She sounds young and joyful, warm and comfortable and inevitably sexy (if anything, you’re picturing Scarlet Johansson). Gradually his spirits are lifted. Theo and Sam have one of the sweetest and most beautiful chemistry, it’s pretty exceptional. Just with this aspect in particular, shows us how good this film is. It’s in the perfectly timed editing, it’s in the story growth and how connected we become. It shows us these little things that hurt us, makes us mad or hopeful. It also shows us a non judgmental side, that I hope today will improve loads until Her’s future. But even Theo’s previous relationship, his marriage with Catherine, played by Rooney Mara, is well told. Joaquin and Scarlet are touching, in their separated ways. There are certainly good things about this film, especially because it is undeniably consistent in tone, every little detail from every department comes together and becomes Her.

Her is a romance, it’s about relationships, it’s about sharing one’s life. Machines will be as smart as humans. And humans will be humans – with feelings (and never should we forget its complexity). Throughout Theo’s journey, Spike gives us the excitement, the pain, the work, the joy and the involvement of being in love. Spike doesn’t want to show us a version of the end of the world, of like a world changing natural catastrophe and so on.

I hate to sound pedantic, I hope I don't, but I think I’m coming close to the reason why I mentioned Angelina Jolie’s dream and “being lucky”. Theodore is one of the lucky ones because he has the opportunity of being sad, hurting, of feeling hopeful, of being in love and finally to live through all of this. Not to mention that some people can’t even reach these stats when they have the chance. I hope in the future, the majority of people have the freedom to love and have a heart break like Theo. I hope there will not be any more slaves of any kind. I hope there will be no more refugee camps because of wars. In general, I just hope for a better future and for all of us to be better people, even if you’re in love with your OS or your dog. We’re the lucky ones, I believe. 

Wikileaks and Fifth Estates

The Fifth Estate

It is entertaining but it is hard to live up to the utterly tremendous and grand story behind Wikileaks. I would suggest if you want to know the truth, or ‘someone else’s version’, to watch Alex Gibney’s doc “We Steal Secrets – The Story of Wikileaks”.

I don’t really understand why this film was so bad received, and was a huge flop. Partly it is because this guy, Julian Assange is quite unlikable, for sure. And weird. Way more complex than what he appears to be in this film, I think. But I also think the film is an acceptable and entertaining one. Maybe it is because I had already seen the doc I talked about, maybe not. So anyway, I would not waste time with The Fifth Estate and just jump to the doc.

By Alex Gibney.

We Steal Secrets – The Story of Wikileaks

I had to watch this documentary again. When I first saw it, my thoughts were basically that I am an ant in this crazy unreachable world, like I am the most oblivious of the species, I am in that box. There’s too much out there. My thoughts now are pretty much the same – all I seem to know is that the world that I’m surrounded goes way beyond my depths. And then it is personal, it becomes personal. It is a personal battle.

We Steal Secrets is to me quite truthful, and then quite tragic.

Unbroken

Take a first look.

I can't wait.

My Birthday Present - OITNB

Other Films seen in January Part II

Directed by Jean-Marc Vallée.

Written by Craig Borten and Melisa Wallack.

Dallas Buyers Club

I would compare Mr. Woodworf to someone like Schindler, except that the Texan saved a lot more people, way more. Like its character, this film goes straight to the point, there’s no time wasting, there’s no bullshit and it is refreshing and sometimes out of the ordinary to look at it because of that. It becomes quite an interesting film. At the end, what I take is that this early homophobe end up saving thousands of lives during the AIDS epidemic and taking a completely different turn to his life and his attitude towards life. It’s about being hit with odd chances and do something positive and life affirming about it. Dallas Buyers Club is about living. 
I should write a post just about the performances, especially by Jared Leto, who besides transforming himself physically, he is so raw and touching, he transcends. 

Written and directed by J.C. Chandor.

All is Lost

I would say this is a daring film, quite daring. Part of it it’s because it’s quite linear – a sailor tries to survive after his boat is crushed. It’s about a survivor. And it is a one man show.

At the end, I was so touched, I really appreciated the film, its story and I would say its boldness, really touching. It's a really great film and well made.

P.S. I prefer this film over Gravity, completely.

Written and directed by Joel and Ethan Cohen.

Inside Llewyn Davis

It is exceptional.

It feels both witty and melancholic or nostalgic. It is essentially nostalgic. It makes total sense if you watch this film more than once, because like many great films, Inside Llewyn Davis tells us a few things between the lines, so it feels like a simple film but it isn’t. There are a lot of things to look for in this story.

And now the question – just how many people can relate to Llewyn Davis these days? I would say a lot. Me included, absolutely.

Written by Tracy Letts.

Directed by John Wells.

August: Osage County

It is often boring, though I need to find another word other than boring, maybe unnecessary sometimes, maybe unbalanced, like Julia Robert’s shouting to her mother to eat her fish. It isn’t compelling.

Written by Gonzalo Maza and Sebastián Lelio.

Directed by Sebastián Lelio.

Gloria

Authentic portrait of a middle aged woman.

It is so interesting that this film is written and directed by men when the story is such a personal story of a woman’s journey through a particular time in her life. Though it is quite identifiable and true and worthy of praise, it is interesting that he decided to portray this Gloria, because it is a great portrait of a woman looking for happiness in her ordinary day life. He gets it.

Other Films seen in January, Part I - Docs

Directed by Rick Rowley.

Written by David Riker and Jeremy Scahill.

Dirty Wars

It will never end.

I actually realized this a few years ago, which in itself is great because it means it is becoming clearer.

Dirty Wars tells us that the American war is an endless war and it also tells us that, well to me at least, like not only the war on terror will never end but more and more it feels like it will be an endless human slaughter. Therefore I should assume it will end until there are literally no more people to kill. But obviously, this is also pretty unlikely to happen.

Directed by Sebastian Junger.

Which Way is the Front Line Here? The Life and Times of Tim Hetheringhton

What a beautiful human being Tim was. He was kind to everyone, thoughtful and considerate. With this doc I have the good fortune to witness his work, his life and what an inspiring one.

Directed by Jacob Kornbluth.

Inequality for All

Docs are one of the most inspiring revelations about the world you can find.

This film is partly about making a difference and it’s about one man that actually does. Or I believe he does.

If you like to be taught, if you like to learn and get inspired by what you learn than this is quite a really nice option. Robert Reich gives us an inside look at the American economy, which translates to the rest of the world, I would say. Not only he explains the gap, but he also brings optimism, he brings understanding and resolutions. In resume, it’s up to us. He is quite heartfelt and he brings the humanity in the numbers. And then it becomes quite inspiring. 

Written and directed by Zachary Heinzerling.

Cutie and the Boxer

It is such a painfully realistic portrait of an immigrant Japanese couple - they’re artists living in New York. They don’t sell; therefore they’re poor, off course. But it is more than being an artist in New York, it’s about relationships. And theirs is pretty heartbreaking too.

Off topic - pretty unfair this film was nominated for the Oscar over Stories We Tell!!!