What I can say about August is that the month actually has a lot of flavor. Catch a couple of good movies from cable and also out of schedule, attended ARKIPEL, it’s a documentary & experimental film festival. I watched Japanese experimental films, some of them were too artsy for me to understand and some of them were awesome. I also watched one documentary film (see the mini review below).
Today’s agenda. Attending @ARKIPEL festival first time. Quite pleasant day pic.twitter.com/8WwOzgTyIm
— Inspired Ground (@InspiredGround) August 27, 2015
But before I attend the festival, I heard a sad news of my friend passed away. He was one of the good readers of the blog, one person who was like a movie bank of knowledge. I once interviewed him for this blog. Sad to hear that he was diagnosed for cancer. I met him a couple of times on local film festivals and he was one of the friendliest of people in the local movie industry.
Saddened with the news on @doniagustan passed away. He was one of the blog’s supporter. Hope you are in a better place, dear friend. — Inspired Ground (@InspiredGround) August 26, 2015
.@doniagustan favorited our tweet just last week. Thank you for reading and make us feel appreciated pic.twitter.com/xChFqvAKvL
— Inspired Ground (@InspiredGround) August 26, 2015
Based on his tweet activity, he was reading this blog a week before he passed away. I hope he’s in a better place, thank you so much dear friend for all of your help and support all this time.
Mission : Impossible – Rogue Nation (2015)
So glad I could see MI 5 and it didn’t fail to impress me. I loved the addition of Rebecca Ferguson and Simon Pegg. The action scenes were great and much thrill, not too over the top also not boring (I somehow got bored watching action scenes). Hats off for Tom Cruise for his dedication of this series and for doing his own action stunt. Score : 7,5
Love Me, Love Me Not (2015)
I expected too much maybe, but this movie was not the standard I was looking for. The only good thing from this movie was Chelsea Islan’s adorable performance and just a slight of spark between her and the hunky leading man. It was adapted from Thailand romcom, but it didn’t have to copy all the gimmick and style also. It should be adapted to Indonesia atmosphere and local style. I also didn’t expected the adult jokes, it made the movie not classy. You should skip this one. Score : 3,5
Sex Tape (2014)
Cameron Diaz, Jason Segel and a leaked sex tape over a mistake. You can expect standard comedy from Hollywood. Entertaining but quite formulaic. Score : 6
Rudderless (2014)
A solid drama from a perspective we rarely focus, from the father of the man who did shooting in campus. The father (Billy Crudup) was a rich successful man before the tragedy, but he slowly sinking after his son’s death. He move to a small town and live in a boat. One day, he sang his son’s song in a bar, and followed by a passionate kid who wants to do a band with him. They ended up big and added two more band members. But it’s a ticking time bomb for the dad, since the secret would blow up sooner or later. I loved the drama, Billy Crudup’s deep performance, and the new angle of a shooting tragedy. The music is a pleasant bonus and gave the movie an energy. I recommend this. Score : 7,5
Stonehearst Asylum (2014)
When mental people run the mental hospital, what do you do? You can expect a disturbing treatment, especially for the least disliked by them, the head hospital. I always loved Jim Sturgess’ childlike and sincere nature, and he always pick romantic character, so you can expect it from this movie too. Ben Kingsley as the lead antagonist was solid and Michael Caine as his opponent as the chained head hospital also delivered a good performance. As much as I want to love the whole concept, the ending was a bit fantasy to me. Score : 6,5
Family Weekend (2013)
A rather dramatic comedy about an overachiever teenage athlete who kidnap her own parents in order them to get along, also for them to attend her contest. It was a bit disoriented if you look at it but it actually have a sincere purpose, just for her to have a normal family; supportive parents who aren’t too busy with their own business and siblings who care. Funny and refreshing to me, though have a bit lunatic element but still acceptable. A big note for busy parents. Score : 7
Hot Fuzz (2007)
I saw Hot Fuzz just several days before seeing MI – Rogue Nation, but it was enough to show how bad ass Simon Pegg can be. Ever since I saw Shaun of The Dead, I just have to see more of Pegg films. And the actors in his movie was always Nick Frost, Bill Nighey, Olivia Colman and many other British actors who were all have the best chemistry together. It was a great, smart and hilarious movie, not just about action. Loved it! Score : 8
A Case of You (2013)
Produced, co-written and starred by Justin Long. He played the romantic and sentimental guy we loved like Tom in 500 Days of Summer, but he lacked courage. Or, that’s what we could call for people who attract their love interest by stalking their facebook page. It also why I didn’t end up rooting for him since he made me not sympathetic for him. Evan Rachel Wood was irresistible and for me a bit too good for him. The end twist failed to give the grand ending and a bit foolish. Score : 6
The Gabby Douglas Story (2014)
Wouldn’t know there’s someone like Gabby Douglas before this movie. Quite inspiring, but the movie’s standard home video might not attract the critic but inspire the young athlete or teenagers. Score : 7
2 Days in Paris (2007)
I find Julie Delpy to be one of the best actresses internationally and one that declared herself to be an artist/woman in movie industry. I also loved 2 Days in New York, the sequel of 2 Days in Paris. But unfortunately, I did not find this movie one I will miss. I didn’t quite understand the whole purpose of the story, other than sometimes two people in love just can’t work their relationship. I find the man to be a bit arrogant and self-centered at the same time to be in a relationship. And though Delpy might be the nurturer in the relationship (and a bigger person), she seemed to be involved with many men before him and it bugged him. I learned a bit more about French and the people, and how even for New Yorkers, some of their social culture to be very frontal about sex. Perhaps what I love was only how natural and homey Julie Delpy’s parents in this movie. Score : 6
The Love Letter (1999)
A witty story about mysterious love letter found in a cozy book shop in a small town. The letter founded by the recently divorced and grumpy woman. She tries to find the person who wrote it and it gets her to have an affair with a younger man who works for her, while also find herself attached to her old fling. The sweet ’90s dramedy was pretty heartwarming for lazy weekend, but you wouldn’t guess who actually written the love letter. Also, you get to see younger Ellen DeGeneres. Score : 7
If These Walls Could Talk (1996)
Interesting several short films in different decades about woman who wants to do an abortion. Since in the ’60s, abortion was always considered a harmful and negative decision. Today, though not a new thing, but still considered a controversy for some people. But what the women all have in common was the awkward and uncomfortable feeling of doing it. There’s always two side on every story. While you don’t want it, others might have trouble to conceive. While you find it a burden, others see it as a blessing. Either way, nobody wants a kid to be raised poorly. Others can accept the pregnancy, while others just couldn’t. Just like the women who did it, this movie did not offer a solution rather just tell a condition. We felt the horror and awkwardness, the uneasy feeling. Score : 6
Segredos da Tribo/ Secrets of the Tribe (2010) – ARKIPEL
Such interesting perspective of anthropologists exploring Yanomami, an indian tribe, said to be the most closed and wild tribe in Amazon. One thing I learned that anthropologists are just human with needs and make mistakes. Also, just how human can create destruction of their involvement, though they might think they are helping the tribe. Such honest documentary, but probably will be banned to see by doctors or anthropologist. Score : 7
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Have you seen any of these movies? What do you think?
