Burdened with a craft that's essentially uncinematic, writers in the movies are perennially blocked, broke, and insane, simultaneously romanticized and ridiculed for their excesses--from the wise-cracking drunks of "Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle" to the sticky sweetness of "Shakespeare in Love," the self-regarding self-reflexivity of "Adaptation," and the homicidal madness of "The Shining." Here are ten films that have something real to say about what it means to write.
1. The Singing Detective
Stories that make us sick, stories that cure us: in the groundbreaking 1986 BBC mini-series, Michael Gambon plays a hospitalized pulp author with a nasty skin disease who wrestles with his demons, past, present, real, and imagined. Rarely have the processes of memory and creation been made visible with such playfulness: goons, dames, Nazi spies, and "Dem Bones" are all part of the brilliantly layered script by Dennis Potter. Caution: avoid the 2003 Robert Downey Jr. remake like the plague.
2. Barton Fink
More wrestling, this time literally: in the Coen Brothers' 1991 Cannes winner, John Turturro sells out to Hollywood, drinks with William Faulkner's alter ego, befriends John Goodman, and watches the wallpaper peel off in the shabby hotel where he is desperately trying to toss off his screenplay. Does it give you "that Barton Fink feeling?" You bet it does. Just for once, the world around Fink is crazier and more absurd than the writer.
3. Wonder Boys
Michael Douglas is endearingly ridiculous in his pink bathrobe, working on a second novel that's over a thousand pages long with no end in sight. Based on Michael Chabon's book and featuring appealing young actors Katie Holmes (pre-Tom) and Tobey Maguire (pre-Spidey), Wonder Boys tells tales from the inside a graduate writing program that are too wacky not to be true.
4. Deconstructing Harry
Not every writer has to justify their work to an angry Judy Davis armed with a revolver; deep down, however, they're all afraid their friends and family will confront them about their thinly veiled characters. One of Woody Allen's last great films, "Deconstructing Harry" is a poignant and hilarious cover version of Ingmar Bergman's "Wild Strawberries."
5. Factotum
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Matt Dillon gives a wonderful performance as Charles Bukowski's alter-ego in Brent Hamer's adaptation/biopic about the hard-drinking, hard-living writer and poet. Outlandish scenes tumble into each other, buoyed by Bukowski's drunken wit and saved from precocious romanticism by his direct, unglamorous honesty.
6. Naked Lunch
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It's a Kafka high: typewriters turn into bugs and extraterrestrial agents dispense strange drugs in David Cronenberg's adaptation of William S. Burroughs' most famous novel.
7. Capote
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Most of the talk about Bennett Millers' film has centered on Philip Seymour Hoffman's Oscar-winning performance--it is easier to praise his outstanding mimicry than to dissect the complexities of the script. Capote tackles tough issues about manipulation, ambition, and the real-life cost of creating art.
8. My Brilliant Career
In Gillian Armstrong's 1979 classic, Judy Davis has yet to display her talent for caustic sarcasm and biting humor. She plays impetuous, young Sybylla Melvyn, a budding author who chooses her fiction over love.
9. I Capture the Castle
Like father, like daughter: marvelous Bill Nighy and heartbreakingly earnest Romola Garai struggle with their craft, doubt their talent, and persevere. Set in a crumbling castle, Tim Fywell's tender, funny adaptation of Dodie Smith's 1949 novel captures the essence of the writing life.
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10. Morvern Callar
Lynne Ramsey's 2002 film might seems like an odd choice for this list--the film's actual writer is dead at the outset. His partying girlfriend picks up his manuscript and sells it under her own name. Morvern Callar isn't about the pain of creating, it's all about the pay-off: in the title role, Samantha Morton gets the supreme pleasure of having written without ever having touched pen or keyboard. [source: worldfilm.about.com]
Mar 17, 2011
Movie About Writer: Recommended for Young Writer
Mar 16, 2011
Zhang Yimou New Film: Under the Hawthorn Tree
The Love of the Hawthorn Tree (simplified Chinese: 山楂树之恋; traditional Chinese: 山楂樹之戀) is a movie directed by the Chinese director Zhang Yimou. It was adapted from the popular 2007 novel "Hawthorn Tree Forever" by Ai Mi, which was based on a true story, and was set during the Cultural Revolution.The film was released in Mainland China (September 2010), Hong Kong (November 2010) and in Singapore.
Set during the end of China's Cultural Revolution in a small village in Yichang City, Hubei Province, China, this film is about a pure love that develops between a beautiful high school student, Zhang Jingqiu and a handsome young prospector named Lao San. Jingqiu is one of the "educated youth" sent to be "re-educated" through work in the countryside under a directive from Chairman Mao.
She arrives with a group in Xiping village, in the Yangtze River's Three Gorges region, where they are shown a hawthorn tree called the Tree of Heroes which was reputedly nourished by the blood of Chinese martyrs executed by the Japanese during World War Two. Jingqiu is lodged with the family of village head , where she meets geology student Sun Jianxin (nicknamed Lao San) ,who also takes his meals at Zhang's home, and was drawn his responsible and honorable character.
Lao San's father is a high-up in the military but his mother committed suicide four years ago after being branded a "rightist". Jing's father is also a political prisoner somewhere in China and her mother is branded as a "capitalist" and is reduced to menial work to support their family. Following the political persecution of his father, Jing Qiu lives up to his mother’s expectations and becomes the rock of the family.
Despite the fact that this could imperil the future of Jingqiu and her family, the two main characters fell in love at first sight and their relationship continues the following year. Lao San also promises to wait for her until she grows up. She, however, becoming conflicted between love and duty.
However, Lao San later develops leukemia and forces himself to leave his sweetheart. Jing, without knowing about his deadly disease, is only reunited with him when he's dying. Will their love ever become fulfilled?
Directed by Zhang Yimou
Produced by Zhang Weiping, Cao Yuayi, Hugo Shong, Bill Kong
Written by Yin Lichuan, Gu Xiaobai, A Mei (novel)
Story by Ai Mi
Starring Zhou Dongyu, Shawn Dou
Music by Qigang Chen
Cinematography Zhao Xiaoding
Editing by Meng Peicong
Distributed by Edko Fims Ltd.
Release date(s) 15 September 2010 (2010-09-15) (China)
Running time 114 minutes
Country China
Language Mandarin
Mar 15, 2011
Bitting Orit Fox's Breast, A Snake Dies
This photo shooting sessions should be full of exciting scenes of a sexy model and a snake. However, beyond expectations Orit Fox, boa constrictor wrapped around his body turned into a savage by biting her breasts after the model of Israel is trying to pose more intimate with the reptiles that crawl.
Uniquely, it's famous ferocious beast with a venom that is experiencing more ill-fated destiny. The model name is yet to climb it just to get a tetanus shot treatment in hospital. While the snake died of poisoning from silicone breast Fox.
This event began when Fox-colored clothing that wrapped red and white stripes try posing wild by licking the face of a snake. When running maneuvers, these models relax the grip of his hand against the neck of a snake which reacted savagely when licked.
Apparently this snake did not want to lose the wild from the model. This reptile sunk his head toward the breast Fox and bite stick in the left breast.
Fox cried out in pain and a photo shoot session crew rushed toward him to attract a snake not long after releasing his grip.
The model is painted with color blond hair was immediately rushed to the nearest hospital and get a tetanus shot. However, the snake appears to be less fortunate because they have to die due to silicone poisoning.
Mar 9, 2011
Natalie Portman Wins Best Actress Oscar 2011 for Black Swan
A gorgeous Natalie Portman made her way carefully to the stage to accept her first Academy Award for her starring role in Black Swan, directed by Darren Aronofsky. Getting a hug from Jeff Bridges, Portman was greeted with what could have been the loudest round of applause of the night from the celebrity audience.
"Thank you so much to the Academy. This is insane, and I truly wish the prize tonight was to get to work with my fellow nominees. I'm so in awe of you. I am so grateful to get to do the job that I get to do. I love it so much," said Portman, shedding a few tears.
I want to thank my parents, who are right there, first and foremost for giving me my life and for giving me the opportunity to work from such an early age. And showing me every day how to be a good human being by example."
Keeping her emotions barely in check, Portman thanked her team, the directors who have remained her supporters throughout the years, and Darren Aronofsky. "You are a fearless leader," said Portman of her Black Swan director, "I am blessed to have just gotten to get to work with you every day for the period of time that we did."
Natalie Portman Lesbian Scene in Black Swan
The appeal of a movie not just a romance antarlawan types. Romance That scene is still Considered unusual, like a pair of women to attract the attention of the audience. That's the idea behind the making of 'Black Swan', the film tells the story of two women.
"Everyone is very worried about the WHO Would watch this movie," said the actress WHO Became a Golden Globe Nomination for 'Black Swan', Natalie Portman on Entertainment Weekly.
Portman has Their own opinions about his latest movie. "Perhaps you are wondering whether there is male audience at a ballet movie or are there women WHO watch horror movies. But, lesbian sex scenes liked everybody," he said as published in People.
In That inspired the ballet classic "Swan Lake ', 29-year actress must play ballerina sex scene with her rival, Played by Mila Kunis, 27 years old. In this movie, Portman served as Nina Sayers, graceful ballet dancer but problematic. As a result of too much dive into Their roles, Portman said his character was Brought in real life.
"There are Some nights That makes me really feel like going to die," said Portman. "This is the first time I understand how a role-cans really control yourself."
Feb 23, 2011
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
Disney’s PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: ON STRANGER TIDES opens in a major movie release this May 2011 suggested by Tim Powers’ novel ON STRANGER TIDES. This film Soundtrack to Feature First-Time Collaboration With Oscar®-Winning Composer Hans Zimmer and Acclaimed Guitar Duo Rodrigo y Gabriela
Walt Disney Pictures have announced today that the soundtrack for Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides will feature a first time collaboration with Academy Award-winning composer Hans Zimmer (The Lion King, Inception, Sherlock Holmes, Gladiator, The Thin Red Line) and acclaimed guitar duo Rodrigo y Gabriela. Simmer worked on the last two installments of the Pirates trilogy.
Feb 18, 2011
LEGEND by Marie Lu will be filmed by CBS Film
Today Publisher’s Lunch announced that CBS Films has purchased the film rights for book 1 in the trilogy. Legend is a post-apocalyptic novel by Marie Lu.
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CBS Films has acquired screen rights to Legend, the first of a futuristic novel trilogy by Marie Lu. Twilight Saga producers Marty Bowen and Wyck Godfrey will produce through their Temple Hill banner. The first book will be published this November by Penguin Group. UTA sold the movie rights.
This might signal that the film company is growing bolder in attempting to create a franchise. The book takes place in a dark future, when North America is split into two warring nations. Legend focuses on Day, a young Robin Hood figure, and June, a teenage prodigy who is hired to hunt him down. Along the way, the two of them uncover an impossible truth about their totalitarian leaders. The project was brought in by CBS Films prexy/CEO Amy Baer and COO Wolfgang Hammer, the latter of whom made this his first preemptive deal since taking that post. Lu will be involved in the scripting stage as an executive producer.
"The character of Day, a roguish teen outlaw on the run, has been in my head since high school," Lu said. "One night, I was watching an old time detective movie when the idea of Day vs. the gifted teen June came to me."
Said Hammer: "This project is a perfect example of theatrical content with enormous digital possibilities."
Deal follows movement on the Stephen King novel The Stand, in which CBS had a longstanding stake dating back to the original miniseries and will try to turn the massive apocalyptic novel into a film in partnership with Warner Bros.
source: http://www.deadline.com/2011/02/cbs-films-makes-franchise-play-with-marie-lu-novel-legend/
Feb 17, 2011
The founder of WikiLeaks will be filmed by Hollywood
The life of Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks will be filmed by Hollywood.Josephson Entertainment production companies and Michelle Krumm Prods bought the rights to his biography. While Julian Assange idles in the U.K. pending the outcome of his legal problems related to sexual assault charges, his celebrity and cash flow are growing.
WikiLeaks: The Movie moved a step closer to reality after studio executives picked up the screen rights to Andrew Fowler’s autobiography on Julian Assange, The Most Dangerous Man in the World. The book details Assange’s life from his childhood to the founding of his whistleblower Web site in 2006.
Producers Barry Josephson and Michelle Krumm say they are planning a “suspenseful drama” with the thrill of a Tom Clancy novel. No director is currently attached to the project and there are no cast details.
Assange incurred the ire of U.S. authorities by partnering with the Guardian to publish over 250,000 secret U.S. diplomatic cables. He revealed details of toxic waste dumping in Africa, Guantanamo Bay procedures, and Church of Scientology manuals.
THE MOST DANGEROUS MAN IN THE WORLD is an in depth look at Assange from his childhood to the current WikiLeaks revolution. Fowler first interviewed Assange in May 2010. The book will be published by Melbourne University Publishing Ltd. in 2011.
Feb 16, 2011
My Princess (2011-Korean Drama)
Lee-Sul (Kim Tae-Hee) is a woman who enters college later than other girls. Like her peers, they dream of one day becoming a princess, but for Lee-Sul she actually becomes a real life princess ...
Hae-Young (Song Seung-Heon) is a 31-year-old diplomat. He is the sole successor of the Daehan Jonghap Group (the largest conglomerate in Korea). Hae-Young is also handsome and graduated from an Ivy League school. Agreeing to his grandfather`s creed, Park Hae-Young decides to give up his rights to the company and all of his assets. This is all for a young woman named Lee-Sul.
Lee-Sul is a 25-year-old college student, majoring in Art History. She doesn't think about the secrets surrounding her birth or her stepsister who teased her behind her back. Lee-Sul keeps a shabby appearance and works several part time jobs on top of her college career. She also has a crush on her professor Nam Jung-Woo (Ryu Su-Yeong). One day, Lee-Sul becomes a princess overnight. In order to make her a princess, the President of the Daehan Jonghap Group offers all of his assets. 50,000,000 people stamp their approvals for her and royal families from all over the world sends congratulatory telegrams. Lee-Sul accepts the role of Princess, but she is now locked up in her palace and forced to study from dawn to late at night. Even worse, Park Hae-Young is her only instructor and he is snooty.
Yoon-Joo (Park Ye-Jin) is a 30-year-old woman, who works as the director of Hae-Young Museum. Her father is the secretary for the President of the Daehan Jong Group. Yoon-Joo hopes to marry Park Hae-Young one day to gain control over the company. Her plans come to a halt when the Princess suddenly appears. For the Princess, the President of the Daehan Jonghap Group returns all of his property to the community. Even Hae-Youngs begins to have favorable feelings for Lee-Sul. Yoon-Joo can't forgive Lee-Sul for what she has caused. Yoon-Jo then makes a plan and if it succeeds Korea will lose their imperial family.
Jung-Woo (Ryu Su-Yeong) is a professor, archeologist and holds a PH.D in the Arts. He is also popular among the female students. Jung-Woo grew up in a poor family. Even now with his high status, his financial situation isn't so good. Because of this, Jung-Woo hasn't proposed to his girlfriend Yoon-Joo. One day, something strange happens. Jung-Woo's student Lee-Sul (who always submits papers late, but works hard at excavation sites) turns out to be a princess. Lee-Sul then asks Jung-Woo to become an advisor for the "Redemption Committee of Imperial Family Cultural Assets".
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* TV Show: My Princess
* Revised romanization: Mai Peurinseseu
* Hangul: 마이 프린세스
* Director:
* Writer: Kim Eun-Suk, Jang Young-Sil
* Network: MBC
* Episodes: 16
* Release Date: January 5, 2011 --
* Runtime: Wed. & Thurs. 21:55
* Language: Korean
* Country: South Korea
Let Me In (2010)
Let Me In is a Hollywood remake of the Swedish version of the film Let the Right One In, that is based on the book. A lot of reviews on this website consist of the audience comparing the remake to the original having seen both. Well I haven't, but this looked liked an interesting film and I went to see only this afternoon at my local cinema. I thought this would be a good film but my expectations weren't exceedingly high and I was glad in a way as by the end it made me appreciate all the more for that reason.
As soon as the first scene comes up I was intrigued and my attention never wavered from the screen throughout the running time of the whole 105 minutes of the movie (minus the credits). The basic story consists of a lonely and bullied 12 year old boy Owen (Kodi Smit-McPhee) whose parents are getting divorced, whilst at school he is bullied by Kenny (Dylan Minnette) and his two friends Mark and Donald. Meanwhile a 12 year old girl Abby (Chloe Moretz) and her father/guardian (Richard Jenkins) move in to Owen next door. Soon they strike up a friendship as a unique bond forms between them, but she appears strange, at one point Owen tells her she smells bad and despite it being winter with snow on the ground, she often goes outside in the courtyard of the flats they live in to see him barefoot without any shoes, but dosen't feel the cold. There is a reason as she has a terrible secret of being a vampire where her father goes out and kills innocent strangers to obtain their blood so she can survive and eventually Owen becomes entangled up in everything when he finds out her secret and he stays with her despite knowing the truth.
This is a fantastic film from start to finish, it's beautifully made with a very bleak atmosphere. The cinematography gorgeously enforces this. It cleverly mirrors the loneliness the two children feel in their lives, Owen who is bullied with no friends and parents who are on a verge of divorce and Abby who is also socially isolated due to being a vampire along with her father who is torn at helping her but wanting to give up. This film takes an intelligent insight into two kids with fractured souls who fit together in a unique and unexplained way of being whole. The friendship that blossoms between them is wonderfully depicted and builds up in a believable pace. This is due to surprisingly excellent performances from McPhee and Moretz who perform a terrific job of capturing the essence of their characters and radiating a very mature presence on the screen, which is an incredible accomplishment. They are so superb that they put some of the adult actors I know to shame. Due to these terrific performances the chemistry is superb and it's a wonder to see them touch each others hands, hug one another or kiss on the cheek. This makes you feel for their predicament as you come to care about the characters and realise Owen will do anything to protect and be with Abby as they care about each other so much.
The supporting performances like Richard Jenkins and Dylan Minnette is great and they deserved to be mentioned. Jenkins gives surprising depth at feeling torn at helping Abby, particularly in a heartbreaking scene when she touches his face as she can see the weight bearing on him of what he does and Minnette perfectly portrays the menacing bully who also in a way is like a lost soul just like Abby and Owen when you see him being bullied by his older brother, which partly explains why he is so mean to others like Owen.
Director Matt Reeves has done also a sensational job on striking a precise balance between the tone of the film where we feel disgusted and scared at how Abby is, what she is doing, but also saddened by her and Owen's predicament and moved in a happy and sad way by the friendship between her and Owen. This is helped by the lovely music by Michael Gucchino who uses it effectively at the perfect time when Owen and Abby spend time together.
The dialogue and script is good too, particularly the facial expressions McPhee and Moretz make. The special effects of when you see Abby's face contorted when she eats is brilliant as it is terrifying. Also it is beautifully shot with some interesting camera shots. For example we never see Owen's mother's face, which I don't know if anyone else noticed was intriguing. It certainly got me thinking that even with his mum, Owen feels truly alone and the (whether intentional or not) never seeing his mum's face could depict the further isolation he also feels from his own family and that she isn't really there in Owen's world as it's just him and Abby.
Matt Reeves has to be commended for a stupendous achievement of making a film that is beautifully made and can connect with the audience on a emotional level. I first saw Chloe Moretz acting in (500) Days of Summer and Kick-ass. She was terrific in that and she has grown since then and is turning into a superb and mature young actress. Kodi Smit-McPhee from The Road, which I saw him in earlier this year I found to be an engaging young actor, with lots of potential and it's lovely to see him continue to fulfil that. This connected to me on every level and has become one of my favourite movies of this year and though it may not receive Oscars, it certainly deserves to be nominated. I am very pleased with the IMDb rating on here. Let Me In has a powerful resonant that radiates to it's audience, I'm glad I let this film in. Absolutely incredible.
for more information about this film visit the oficial website http://www.letmein-movie.com/
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