Hello, July. I hope this month can be as awesome (or maybe more) than June. We started doing fasting this month (Ramadhan) and I also got more consumed by running my own little shop. But this month’s movie watching wasn’t bad. I can catch up several new releases. Couple of period dramas. Perhaps I was a lot more in to TV series than movies, as I was a constant audience for Asia’s Next Top Model, Married at First Sight S02, Unreal and some others. I finally posted My 5 Favorite Movies About Cooking and for soundtrack, I picked Man Up (2015). Anyway, here’s movies I saw first time on June :
Belle (2013)
Rebel Without A Cause (1955)
Pitch Perfect 2 (2015)
Everybody who bothered to see the sequel of Pitch Perfect after seeing the first one know what to expect and possibly searched for it again; humor, Rebel Wilson, beautiful singing and teen competition. This time the girls have already in college and their championship status is tainted with an unfortunate incident of inappropriate expose of woman genitalia (unexposed to the screen of course) by one of the most full-figured member of them (you know who). Now they must find to get their ‘trophy’ back. A new member of the group is hired most importantly because she’s the daughter of a former Bella champion, but the new girl’s awkwardness gets the group a bit of a minus score. With tough competitor and group-drama, also Beca’s (Anna Kendrick) new gig in a record company that made her lose focus, the group have a lot to take.
It was still hilarious, I think it might be even better since maybe I already know what to expect. Hailee Steinfield as the new girl brought a new color and quality, with such great voice and adorable awkwardness. Didn’t get irritated with Anna Kendrick again, since she was aware of her coolness in the first one. It won’t be as hilarious without Rebel Wilson. And the Germany competitor group was intimidating, though I think they were too experienced and mature to join such competition (why not sign their group on label and go public?). Expect this one to be an entertaining one stop movie on comedy, singing and competition. Score : 7
Jurassic World (2015)
I was a little kid when Jurassic Park first released in the 1990s and I remember the hype, and I also remember how bad was the sequel. Considering we live in an era where visual effects can rule movies, we can hope that Jurassic World won’t fail on that section. In fact, it gave a real feeling of the entire recreation park and I too want to be the visitor. But when it comes to the story, there was a lot of unbalanced parts.
I thought Bryce Dallas Howard always gives a bold performance, but her superior and bossy tendency was gone after the dinosaurs made the place in danger. Her appearances didn’t felt realistic, the high heels and the clothes and also her ‘suddenly’ properly prep wavy hair. Chris Pratt was great and a great lead, but where’s his professionalism when he decided to forget his work and follow his former fling finding her nephews? And most importantly, I love Irrfan Khan and he nailed it as a charismatic and rich-minded boss, but can he get a better exit or story? Well, there was a lot of little ‘what-the?’ things but I do think it’s a good summer movie. Still, it fail to get the real meaning of why the park was built, like in Jurassic Park when John Hammond looks on his cane with a dinosaur fossil on its stone with a crushed heart. Score : 7
Walk of Shame (2014)
I did read the bad reviews, but I was curious. And it was aired on cable. But, I believe the reviews are right; Walk of Shame was not a good. The problem is it was too formulaic and a bit too unrealistic. How can it be, a woman went from a one night stand spend all day without no one able to ‘properly’ help her to go to her office? She did wear a provocative outfit, but I personally think it was still too tasteful to be considered as a prostitute. Elizabeth Banks is one actress with one interesting color, but maybe not great as the lead. While she was refreshing to see, Banks didn’t make us laugh (as maybe Sandra Bullock would do, I imagined) with her unfortunate and desperate condition. She just looked exhausted, but I wasn’t feeling her urgency or her desperation. Score : 5
Big Eyes (2014)
Big Eyes reminded me a lot of Georgia O’Keefe story, where female painter gets betrayed by her own husband. I think it’s a great lesson to appreciate your own art, and more importantly to appreciate yourself. When you have the talent, but you can’t step forward proudly to your own work, others will steal your spot and most unfortunately for Margaret (Amy Adams) because the stealer is her own husband, Walter (Christoph Waltz). From my own experience (and seeing people I know), artists just aren’t sales people and sales people aren’t artists. Both value different things, one is idealistic the other is materialistic. So, they both won’t work because their elements are totally different. Talking about the movie, I think it was a bit too common on the storytelling and even too comical the part where Walter defend himself in court. Especially, when it comes to Tim Burton’s style as a director. I think it would be a lot interesting if it be made Fincher style or a bit thriller. Score : 6,5
Cloud Sils of Maria (2014)
Since Alice (2014), Kristen Stewart’s performance has gotten a lot more natural. In Cloud Sils of Maria (2014), she was pretty believable as a famous movie star, Maria Ender’s (Juliette Binoche) assistant, Valentine. Perhaps she could easily relate the role from her own profession (and personal relationship?). I can’t question Juliette Binoche’s performance, since she is a big movie star outside the movie as well and she always nail any part. But from this movie, I can see the all the consideration, preparation and commitment for an actress to do a role. But it isn’t just any role, it’s a role from a movie she once play in her younger years and she’s not playing the fortunate portion. She’s playing a part of an old lady boss who falls in love with her young arrogant employee. The employee played by today’s rising ‘crazy’ star, Jo-Ann Ellis (Chloe Grace Moretz). This switch for Maria Ender to me is like she’s already doing her career full circle, from a young promising star to a big movie star. I find the movie has too much conversations, especially between Maria and her assistant. But I can’t understand why Valentine would be gone missing with no explanation or drama from Maria, just suddenly she already has a new assistant. Is assistant job is that demanding and easy to replace like that? I love the performances and the knowledge of an actress’ life, but not too fond on the story. Score : 6,5
Age of Innocence (1993)
A conflicted love story in an era where divorce for woman and breaking up your fiancee are a disgrace. Lots of pressed feelings and arranged manners. For all I know, Ellen (Michelle Pfeiffer) has done all she can do for her own freedom and she knows her choices well. But it was all a test for Newland (Daniel-Day Lewis), Ellen’s cousin, May’s (Winona Ryder) fiancee, of whether he can be brave enough to follow his feelings and break all the rules. Considering we live in an era where scandals happen everyday, this secret love story is still considered ‘light’ and it can be fought if someone really wants to. So, pure love stories that couldn’t last because they can’t face the consequences (when it’s still man and woman, and not in the same blood), always seem like a waste. Score : 7,5
*****
Readers, how’s your June? Saw anything interesting?