Cielo ligeramente nublado

Atonement
Maybe I should start by saying the credits haven't stopped rolling and that I'm still crying. Or maybe I should start by saying this has been my favorite movie of 2007.

I've only read half the book, but I can say that that first part was adapted in a wonderful way - it is incredibly faithful to it, and yet it takes the best of the book and enhances it further, for it has none of the sober and too-slow tone of the novel. The pacing becomes fast, dynamic, and it makes the movie much nicer.

It's hard to think of a film in which all the performances are as solid and awe-worthy of this: I've been admiring James McAvoy's acting style for a while (who doubtlessly steals the movie), that way of getting inside a character's skin. But I can't ignore the fantastic performances of Saoirse Ronan and Romola Garai, both acting as Briony, and even Keira Knightley gave a very good performance even if it could be considered as the weakest of the bunch. But really, all performances are good - rather for what they don't say but for what they do; that way of expressing in silence.

The plot on itself is pretty good represented; it is emotive without being melodramatic, and it is very touching - it manages to hurt, say. Just like the ending hurts, but that you expect since the beginning.

I must say that the technical side gets to overshine the actual plot at times, it was that good. This has been one of the best camera works I've ever seen - it tends to centered, quiet shots, and there's even a two minutes and a half long shot. How long it took to plan that, I can't even imagine, but it could easily be the climax of the movie. The cinematography, also, was absolutely stunning - it plays with the contrast of light-colored and illuminated shots with the darkness of the war in green and black dark tones. Simply marvelous. The music I've liked for some time, but its taken to a whole new level when together with the film.

So in short I loved it, and I guess I'll have to see it again to fully digest it. And as to the question everybody asks themselves: Do I forgive Briony? I'm not sure. She was but a child.

Cielo azul sin una sola nube

La Môme / La Vie En Rose
D: Olivier Dahan
Marion Cotillard, Sylvie Testud, Pascal Greggory, Emmanuelle Seigner, Gérard Depardieu.

Based on the childhood, adolescence and stardom of French singer Edith Piaf.

I must start by saying that I'm not at all familiarized with Edith Piaf, and that I've never been a great fan of that specific kind of music. And even with that, I was pretty satisfied with the movie. The thing is: the movie on itself (script, illumiation, photography, etcetera) are good on theirselves, but not doubt at all, what makes this movie extraordinary insteaf of just plain good is the performance of Marion Cotillard.

This was, no place for doubt, one of the best performances I've seen in my life - Cotillard gets inside the character, makes it real, and if it wasn't for her, the movie wouldn't be half as good as it is. As I've said, the script is good, and I've always liked non-linear narrative; but it's Cotillard's performace what makes it emotional, deep and touching. I must admit I spent the last twenty minutes of the movie crying - once I started I just couldn't stop. And yet, there's something that never quite clicked for me, I don't know what. I'm not sure I'll be able to see it again, for example.

There's this scene in particular, I'm not going to spoil anyone but it has Edith walking through long hallways time and time again, and it could very well be the climax of the movie, since in just one moment the viewers realize something horrible has happened, and the tension and emotion that that scene causes surprised me. The cinematography is forever changing according to the age and Edith's shifting moods (dark and opressive for the Paris of her childhood, elegant and smooth for the New York of the 30s, colorful and vibrant for California, and so on), but it never goes beyond the rule.

I give it a five out of a five, but I must add: this grading is for Marion Cotillard's superb acting. The movie is good, but not as good.

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Across the Universe:

A dock worker Jude travels to America in the 1960s to find his estranged father. There he falls in love with sheltered American teenager Lucy. When her brother Max is drafted to fight in the Vietnam War, they become involved in peace activism. The film title and main characters are named after various songs by The Beatles.

I have to say that I’ve never been the greatest Beatles fan, and even yet I enjoyed this movie immensely – what’s more, it made me realize what I was missing and as soon as I came back from the theatre I started downloading assorted songs obsessively. But yes, a large part of the movie’s charm falls on the songs and their connection with the storyline – the emotional impact, let’s call it.

The movie opens with a wide shot of an English beach, a silent moment before the photographic and surrealist frenzy of the rest of the film. This might be one of the things that doesn’t leave me completely satisfied, seeing that while the surrealist feeling fits with the decade and it wonderfully made, it becomes a tad too much at times.

In contrast, the strength of the film falls on the parts that deal with the Vietnam war, which are emotive, well done and leave the audience thinking. The romance and the friendship themes are left a bit under the shadow of the war motifs, but they’re still attractive and are helped significantly by the music. The best performances were, to me, those of Jim Sturgess, Martin Luther McCoy and Joe Anderson, but I do have to say, all of the cast’s voices were impressing.

So yes, it worked for me. I do recommend it, and that’s even when you could never really call me a fan of musicals.



I also saw Yamakasi - Les samouraïs des temps modernes, and while it was fun, for a Luc Besson film, it was really weak, story-wise. The element that comes to life in this one is the use of Parkour and Free Running - which include roof to roof jumps, and fantastic acrobatics. It's about freedom, in a way. I saw it on the computer, but I've seen the dvd in my favorite video rental store for a couple of years now and I'd always wanted to see it. Why, you say? Because of the posters. My dream has always always been to be able to fly. Which is ironic, considering I'm mildly afraid of heights. So these posters? Seemed like my fantasy fulfilled.

Cielo lluvioso

Today I went to see 3:10 to Yuma and liked it very, very much. It was quite the bloodbath, though, huh? I have to start by saying I've never liked westerns, but this one had a certain punch to it that made it unique. For starters, it had wonderful performance by both Crowe and Bale - Bale is haunted, needy and the ultimate man of honor, while Crowe is charismatic and just a brilliant villian - both ruthless and charming at the same time. It's certainly not a perfect movie, and aside from falling into over-the-top action scenes at times, it can be too moralizying, but it was really interesting and entertaining and I just really liked the way Ben Wade and Dan Evans ended up circling each other, understanding each other far too much for their liking.

I spent most of the movie wondering just where the hell had I seen the dude playing Charlie Prince before, and seeing that I couldn't remember I started calling him beardy McHottie-pants in my head, AKA the guy with the awesome awesomely sexy white leather jacket I want to own. *cough* Turns out, he was Angel in X3. I guess it's not surprising I couldn't remember, seeing that I usually try and ignore that movie was ever made. Ugh. Seriously, though, what a dream of a role, that trigger-happy psycopath, and he pulled it off it really, really well.

Cielo despejado con luna nueva

I saw Sommersturm yesterday.

Synopsis: Tobi and Achim, the pride of the local crew club, have been the best of friends for years and are convinced that nothing will ever stand in the way of their friendship. They look forward to the upcoming summer camp and the crew competition. Achim's girlfriend Sandra is on the girl's team and he enjoys spending more time with her. Tobi becomes increasingly skeptical of their relationship. Anke, the pretty girl who has fallen for Tobi, doesn't make things any easier. Then the gay team from Berlin arrives and Tobi is totally confused. The evening before the races begin, the storm that breaks out is more than meteorlogical... A sensitive story about the complexities of growing up.

It was pretty nice, but nothing brilliant. Then again, it had some rather gorgeous moments, aesthetically, and there were some pretty interesting camera work going on there. As for the story, it was a pretty simple coming of age story, about Tobi, the boy in love with his best friend and trying really hard not to acknowledge it until it's painfully obvious he's seething with jealousy of Achim's girlfriend. The movie's set in a rowing camp (or whatever it's called in English) and based around Tobi's turmoil or accepting himself and having his friends accepting him in return. It was quite bitersweet, and a good portrayal of a slice of real life. So it was good, if not outstanding. And let's face it, it was pretty hot as well - I'm all for boys kissing each other. *cough*

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I did watch The Last King of Scotland yesterday, and was blown away by it. It was optimistic and colorful at times, and raw and painful and powerful at others, particularly at the last half. As everyone, I was floored by the acting, which were superb. Forrest Whitaker deserved his oscar, no doubt (what a stunning performance he gave! He became Idi Amin), but I am somewhat shocked at how little recognizment James McAvoy got out of the film, considering what a solid interpretetion he gave. Nicholas as a character, actually, was surprisingly well-developed for a fictional character in a movie based in real events, and it was rather an interesting point of view.

As I said, this movie's just really, really powerful - it strikes a chord, of sorts, and I ended up suitably traumatized and shaken but pleased. Another surprising detail: The photography was quite beautiful. And let us be shallow for a moment: Mr. McAvoy looked all sorts of good. *cough*

I--I hadn't seen a movie in nearly a month. WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME. Is it really me, anyway? Have I been swaped with aliens? How, how is it possible.



I saw Becoming Jane yesterday, and I have to say it was completely charming. The camera work was real good, and there were some really lovely shots. The music was lovely as well - I might have to get part of it. The cinematography was good, but with all the, uh, potential, the sets had, it could've been used better (I am thinking of Pride and Prejudice, which had an astounding photography). Oh, and the acting was wonderful! I was... quite dubious, of Anne Hathaway as Jane Austen, but her accent was actually somewhat decent and she gave a good performance. James McAvoy, on the other hand, was just a joy to watch. Oh, he was so good and cute and I like how he gets inside character's skins - he truly was Tom Lefroy. (Who, by the way, was such a well rounded character - I didn't expect that).

So yes, I liked it lots - it was hopeful and then not and while it still felt a bit on the fantastic side, it still felt quite real. So yes, it draws rather a bit too much from Pride and Prejudice* and it is in no wan an biographical film but it was still pretty good and I smiled throughout it.

Cielo lluvioso

This is me, today. Feeling horrible about myself and worse, deserving it completely.

My entry for this week's Illustration Friday, the theme is The Blues. Pretty fucking fitting, I'd say.

Cheap watercolors on cheap paper because the only paper I had with me at school was bond and I was feeling too shitty and too lazy to redo it in watercolor paper.

Cielo lluvioso

And this, kids, is why teenagers should be forbidden from marrying.

My entry for this week's Illustration Friday. The them was Weddings. Just a lazy doodle, but oh well, I've really been busy.

Cielo lluvioso

Well, I finally got to see Stardust and my, but it was wonderful. Let's get the only bad thing out first, shall I? IT WAS IN SPANISH. NO ONE TOLD ME IT'D BE IN SPANISH. I HATE HATE HATE DUBBED MOVIES. So yeah. It was so good that I stopped focusing in my hatred for dubbing pretty soon, though, and I guess I now have an excuse to go see it again XD



Anyway, I loved it. I caught on to this fact when I caught myself grinning ideotically through every. single. scene. in the movie, lol. The Tristan/Yvaine relationship was really well treated, and they had so much chemistry and spark; Lamia was wicked and Captain Shakespeare made me laugh insanely. Also, the photography was real pretty, even if the music was a bit repetitive. I'm also really okay with the changes they made from the book - the only thing that rings untrue is that 'one week' deadline, but everything else? Really well made, and anyway, the book's ending was always somewhat plain, and it just made sense for the producers to spice it up for the silver screen. I didn't think it'd be that funny, though! That was a nice surprise, 'cause I honestly laughed and laughed at both the Captain's (hilarious) and princes' storylines. :) In short, I loved it to bits and so did everyone else in the theatre, it seemed.

And today I went to see The Bourne Ultimatum and, of course, it rocked my socks off. BUT. Y'ALL FAIL. WHY DID NO ONE TOLD ME DANIEL BRÜHL WAS IN IT? (ALL THREE MINUTES OF IT, WHATEVS.) In any case, it was much better than the second one and pretty on par with the first one, I'd say. I liked the development on Julia Stiles character, if I gotta be honest, and as always, Jason Bourne is souch an easy character to empathyze with, which is difficult considering who he is. Anyway, me ♥ spy stories, so of course I dig these movies. I still missed Franka Potente's character, though, she was cool. ;__; I'm considering reading the books.

Lluvia ligera

I went to the movies with my dad and we saw Paris, je t'aime and oh wow, it was so lovely. It truly is the mark of a good director/writer when they get the audience to empathize and understand the characters when they only have about five minutes onscreen. I only wish there'd be some marking as to who was directing which part, but my wikipedia-fu is nothing but fierce so now I can say which were my favorite segments:

The best one, in my eyes, was the one directed by Tom Tykwer (director of Run Lola Run, and it all fits now), the one with Natalie Portman - it was absolutely stunning and beautiful. The second best was the one directed by Isabel Coixet, about a man torn between staying with his sick wife or running away with his mistress. It was just lovely and so well shot - it reminded me of Amelie somehow, probably because of the narrator. I laughed the hardest with the one directed by Alexander Payne, the one about a tourist from the US talking about her love for Paris. My dad must have burst something laughing, he says he sounded just the same when he was backpacking through Paris, haha. (but he was with friends and was twenty something and sent passionate and wacky love letters to my mom, so he wasn't that pathetic, I guess)

The one with Elijah Wood made me laugh in all its B-series-ness and I went OMG IS THAT GASPARD ULLIEL, IS IT? IT IS OMG, AND HE'S TELLING ANOTHER DUDE THAT HE MUST BE HIS SOUL MATE OMG OMG. lol. I liked the one-shot format in Alfonso Cuarón's segment, and the mime one was so funny. In all, I really loved this movie, to capture such a different range of emotions with such different characters was definitely a task, and now I really, really want to go to Paris again.

Cielo nublado con posiblilidades de lluvia

I saw The Dreamers yesterday night, and oh wow. Oh man, I'm in love. One of those movies, you know? The premise: Matthew is an exchange student in Paris, and he meets and falls in love with a pair of fraternal twins, Isabelle and Theo, and the three of them seclude themselves from the world, lost in a fantasy world made up almost entirely of reminicenses of old movies while the student rebellion of 1968 comes to a peak outside their window. So yes, there is incest, somewhat explicit sex and a lot of nudity, and yet, I loved it to pieces. Just - the way they interact with each other, the games they play, it was all incredibly moving, even if they're all somewhat disturbing characters. Then the love of cinema of all of them was just incredible, and the lovely Parisian atmoshere coating everything and the subplot of the revolts was really well made. I'm only sad that it didn't have subtitles for the French parts, few as they were, and I feel like I lost something of the sibling's interactions. In all, I just loved it, so, so much.

It's weird, though, remember what I said a few days ago about gratuitous sex? It didn't feel like that at all in here, because, just like in Y Tu Mamá También, sex is one of the main ways in which the character interact, and it tells a lot about their characters. Plus, they were really well made, and not at all pornographic or anything of the like.

Cielo parcialmente nublado

I saw Sakuran last, uh, Thursday, I think, and I kept on forgetting to write about it for some reason. It's a pretty straightforward film, girl fights adversity only to find true love at the end, but it was pretty well executed, and the cinematography was just about brilliant, made entirely of bright, vibrant colors and contrasting colors. The music was pretty good, too, really jazzy with hints of bossa nova, rock, electronic pop and tango, which aren't at all what one expects to find in a movie set in the samurai-ruled Japan. Even though logically I know that an Oiran is nothing like a Geisha, comparations with Memoirs of a Geisha are instinctically made, because it has somewhat the same plot (young girl is sold! Girl fights through adversity only to become the best at what she does! Girl finds love! AND all while wearing Kimono!), and really, Kiyoha has ten times the guts and will to live meek Sayuri ever had. She's quite an amazing character, too, because she's childish and selfish and capricious and has quite a modern-day approach of life for a woman living as a whore in the Tokugawa era Japan. So yes, a very pretty, very nice movie, even if not a master piece.

And then, after yesterday's cinema fiasco (which was really a hard blow for me, because Amores Perros is one of my favorite movies ever and seeing Guillermo Arriaga going so low as that [en el hoyo y siguiendo cavando, como decimos por aquí] was downright depressing for the state of today's Mexican cinema) I just had to go see something decent. I chose the movie well.



I saw The Painted Veil, and my, but what a lovely, enchanting movie. First off, I loved the characters, the movie did a great job of developing them into kind, loving people that can be completely horrid at times - they're mean, and petty, and childish at times, and I loved it. A right battle of wills. And then the setting was gorgeous and while my dad is right and there was much more to be done with the photography because the landscapes were just stunning, it was still gorgeous, and the time frame helped it somehow. And then the plot was awfully interesting and well done and the ending had me tearing up a bit. I honestly tip my hat off to both Edward Norton and Naomi Watts, they gave wonderful perfomances - completely believable, and their accents were top-notch (or at least they were to my uneducated ears). Ah, it was just nice to see something good enough to restore my faith in the film industry.

Cielo despejado

I saw El Búfalo de la Noche (The Buffalo of the Night) today, a movie I'd been looking forward for months, and I'm sorry to say it disappointed me. It hardly feels like Guillermo Arriaga's writing (the man who wrote Amores Perros, 21 Grams and Babel) - it felt clumsy, amateur-ish. The worst of it, though? The gratuitous sex scenes. Seriously, it's like someone's taking their clothes off every five seconds, with no motivation whatsoever (all Camila Sodi does is get naked for five minutes, talk for two of them and THAT'S IT. That's ALL she does in the entire movie, ugh), and while it was nice to see Diego Luna's bits, yes, I'm shallow like that, it just gets boring when it's not helping to the story at all.

So yes. It had lots of potential, because the characters are pretty interesting (especially Gregorio) and there's some subplots that are honestly intriguing but they fall flat and they're never developed. The premise is: Gregorio's girlfriend, Tania, cheats on him with his best friend, Manuel, while Gregorio's locked away at a psychiatric hospital, and when he finds out, he kills himself. Days later, Manuel gets a letter written in Gregorio's handwriting. It could've been such a good mystery, and all of the characters are deliciously insane (literally), but it just didn't live up to my (or anyone's) expectations. It's not a bad movie per se - it's still better than most of the crap in the cinemas right now - but it's not that good either.

For all that Guillermo Arriaga keeps on bitching on and on about not needing Alejandro Gonzáles Inárritu's directing to shine, he's done a piss poor job of convincing me.

...lluvias pobladas? No me acuerdo.

An old entry I forgot to actually post. Originally dated July 14th and posted now for the sake of thoroughness.

I'm watching Howl's Moving Castle right now, and really, now that I think about it, the Potter movies really do fare well as book adaptations go, I mean -- as enchanting as Miyazaki's film is (because it's Miyazaki, and he can do no wrong in my eyes), it's nowhere near the sheer awesomeness that the book is (then again, HMC is one of my favorite books, so...). Howl isn't nearly enough of an asshole, Sophie isn't nearly enough of a nosy bully and the With of the Waste isn't nearly enough of an evil bitch. That's not ever saying anything about Michael suddenly being turned into a six year old in desperate need of Ritalin and the scarecrow being all happy-happy, and the way they pulled a World War II-esque plot out of their asses and DID I MENTION THERE'S NO DRUNKEN, RUGBY PLAYING HOWL WHICH IS SUCH A DISAPPOINTMENT?

Er, now it sounds like I hate the movie, don't I? No, I do like it, it's got fantastic music and a lovely feeling to it that makes me smile and smile and well, Miyazaki did wanted to turn it into a more him movie, instead of a Diana Wynn Jones one.

Cielo despejado

Oh, I saw this wonderful movie yesterday! Tadpole, the story of a 15-year-old boy in love with his 40-year-old step-mother, was much more than I thought it'd be, and once again, I was reminded why I like Aaron Stanford so much as an actor. I seriously laughed so much, and was pleasently surprised at how good the writing was. The characters were pretty engaging, too - the weight of the movie fall on Oscar's shoulders, and he doesn't disappoint as an interesting, complex character that has the perfect mix of adolescent yearning to impress and a mature mindset. Visually, no, the quality isn't that good, but the script and the acting really make up for it, and I was seriously impressed with it. The music and the Voltaire quotes really add to it, and honestly, it closes with David Bowie's Changes - how can that go wrong?

Cielo parcialmente nublado con lluvia por la tarde

Just a little something I did for a friend - her mom needed some illustrations about different stages of childhood. Drawn in markers.

Cielo ligeramente nublado con luna llena

Today I saw Das Leben der Anderen (The Lives of Others). And really, what a lovely, real-feeling movie it is. As it is, I have a soft spot for German movies, and this one didn't disappoint. The sparse feeling of the cinematography suits the theme very much, and along with gorgeous music, the plot was interesting and well written. A lot of the weight of the movie falls on the character's shoulders, which are just wonderfully-written - it's as if you get to know each of them personally, and at the end, you can't help but feel for them. The last line almost made me cry. Anyway, I still think Pan's Labyrinth deserved the Oscar, but damn if this one wasn't tough competition.

Lluvia ligera después de una tormenta con delirious de diluvio

I watched Ocean's 13 on Thursday, and then watched it again today with my family this time around, lol. In short, it was pretty fantastic - not as charming as the 1st one, but loooots better than the 2nd one. It felt a bit... bare, music-wise, but the 60's styled photograhy made up for it, the same as the characters (oh, but Danny and Rusty are just incredible together, always have been). The twist at the end wasn't as impressive as the one in O11, but sooo much better than the crazy stunt they pulled in O12. Er, not everything is like that here in Mexico, though, promise. (ah, but why do they really have to show the worst of every country in movies?)



And on Friday I watched Ratatouille, and oh my, but what an enchanting movie! It made me smile so much. Brad Bird, man, Disney better keep him. Anyway, lovely animation, and Remy was OMG SO CUTE. Really, imagine that with the candor of a prepubescent twelve-year-old voice and draw hearts and rainbows and unicorns around it and you'll get the way that gorgeous rat makes one feel. Granted, I'm a clean-freak, so there was still that edge, of 'OMG HE'S TOUCHING THE FOOD WITH ALL HIS GERMS, OMG' but mostly, I lauged and giggled and cooed at Remy and made incoherent noises. It's that good. Not a masterpiece, certainly, but quite a success. BUT! I'd only have a meager slice of bread and nutella for breakfast that day, and I swear (and my mom can bear witness), my stomach was doing an awful lot of noise. I came out of there so, so hungry. But so happy.

Cielo despejado sin nubes a la vista

Markers on Bond paper, 20x40 cmts (8x16 inches).
Crappy photo because it didn't fit in my scanner. Inspired by the endless (hee, pun intended) hours I've spent reading Sandman and loving Delirium.

Oh, my baby blue marker, how I weep for it. It actually bailed on me last night, that's why the left side looks all weird. It's my own fault, though, because I know I shouldn't use markers for such big zones if I'm not going to be using solvent, and I can't use solvents on Bond paper, it's far too cotton-y.

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I saw Water today, and fell in love with it. I really can't praise it enough - it manages to be hopeful yet painful, beautiful and serene and shocking. The ending, while it sad (it honestly made me cry a bit), was just perfect. It's about the long-lasting tradition in India that widows may choose one from three destinies: either being burnt alive next to their husband's bodies, marrying their husband's younger brother or spending the rest of their lives mourning for them in poverty. Chuyia is a seven-year-old girl that is married to sick man only for him to die the next day. The young girl soon stirs the melancholy-saddled widow house. Really, folks, do see it, this movie was just gorgeous, and along the wonderful story, the vibrant and colorful cinematography and the music are worth the ticket alone.

Tormentas dispersas con granizo

Watched Little Children today, which was lovely. I loved how fleshed out the main characters were - you could feel every bit of their frustration and anguish, and the narrator managed to be not annoying at all, which is strange for me - I'm usually not fond of it. Great movie about human nature and the way we interact with each other. The chemistry between Kate Winslet and the male protagonist (I honestly can't place him) helped the movie so much, and the photography, while simple, was really pretty. In all, the ending was good - very real, very bittersweet. Nice.

Cielo nublado con probablidades de lluvia

My entry for this week's Illustration Friday - Rejection. Colored with markers

Cielo despejado con pocas probabilidades de lluvia

Welcome to Brinca Charcos, an art and movie blog for me, Ale. I'm a Graphic Design student, and I'll be posting in here some of my work for school along with original art. I'm also a big movies fan, and I'll be using this blog to post reviews for the random films I watch.