"King of California" is an indie perspective answer to "National Treasure". Charlie (Michael Douglas) is a mentally ill father who recently just released from hospital. He believes there's a hidden treasure buried somewhere around California. His child-like persona and erratic behavior is casing many problems to a responsive one, his daughter. Miranda (Evan Rachel Wood), 16 years old girl who dropped school and work at the McDonald to make end meet.
As soon as Charlie came up with the idea of searching a hidden treasure, Miranda can't help but thinking that it is just another crazy idea that Charlie did all his life (we saw Miranda's childhood via flashbacks). But soon after things explained, Miranda realizes that his goal maybe not just a glory, but it's something far more touching and deeper.
First time director, Mike Cahill, did an ok job here. Nothing is really standout. But one thing that he did right in this movie was casting. Without this cast, this movie will not be ever made. I think the most severe problem is he spent too much time with a caper and less time in father-daughter relationship (which is main point of the whole movie). However the chemistry between Michael and Evan were great. You can really believe since the first reel that they are actually father and daughter.
Also one thing that movie made it right is the ending. For the whole movie, I really like Miranda's narrative which is sincere and honest. She said especially good in the last reel. Maybe people did something lack of reason. Do not assume that it is unacceptable. Listen, and then you will understand their perspective on things.
That he was near to you so many a year But darkens you distress. Would you he were less worthy and less dear That you might grieve the less?
He was a golden font that freely poured What goldenly endures, And though that font be gone, its bounty stored and treasured, Still is yours.
The past is deathless. Souls are wells too deep To spend their purest gains. All that he gave to you is yours to keep While memory remains. Who never had and lost forlorn are they Far more that you and I Who had and have Judge not the price we pay For love that cannot die.
"I only do this because I'm having fun. The day I stop having fun, I'll just walk away. I wasn't going to have fun doing a teen movie again.... I don't want to do this for the rest of my life....I don't want to spend the rest of my youth doing this in this industry. There's so much I want to discover."
"Once" star Glen Hansard interview (excerpted from Entertianment Weekly's website)
You'd known Mar for a while, hadn't you? I met her when she was 12. Mar's father, Marek, was a good friend of mine. He was a fan of the Frames, and he invited us over to play some small festival in the Czech Republic. Then he invited me to stay in his house for three months and write songs. Mar came into my life very similarly to how she does in the film. She was very young, but she came up to my room one day when I was singing one of my songs, and said, ''That song you're singing, did that really happen to you?'' And I said, ''Well, yeah, kind of.'' And she said, ''Did it, or didn't it?'' And I said, ''Well, it's kind of poetic license.'' And she was like, ''Well, why are you singing it, then?'' And I said, ''Well, as a songwriter you're allowed to do that.'' And she said, ''Well, I don't agree. I think you should be singing about what happened in your life.''
And how did you start playing music together? While I was staying at Marek's place I was playing these shows and I'd get Mar to come up and play some piano and sing with me, because she was a great pianist. She was 13, 14 at this time. Over the next few years we started to do more and more songs together and eventually we did full sets together. Just as that happened, John came up to me with the idea of Once. That's the thing that clinched it for me — Mar was already cast in it. She'd never even acted before. So the idea of being in Once with her was an attractive option, because it documented my friendship with her. John had wanted a kiss scene and I insisted it couldn't be done, for a few different reasons, but mostly because I was uncomfortable with it.
And the irony is... The irony is that Mar and I have been thrown in the deep end with each other, and it's developed into something else. It's like life imitating art, and art imitating life at the same time.
When did you two officially get together? In April. I think we fell in love a couple of years ago, but nothing happened until recently. To be honest with you, I felt that even back then this girl had become so prominent in my life that she would probably be the girl I'd marry one day. But you keep that in the back of your head. That's why I'm so open about Once, because there are a lot of parallels in it to my own life and a lot of magic around it and my relationship with Mar.
Did this make it a fine line between you and Mar in real life, and the characters you played on screen? I think John was clued in to the fact that there was something between us, and he kept talking about the chemistry. He said, ''There's something going on here and I'm really glad I'm getting it on film.'' He wouldn't let us watch the rushes. He said, ''No matter what it is that's going on, I don't want you knowing what it is. I want you to be natural.''
when i've firstly heard about Heath's news, I was so shocked. Though he was not my favourite actor, I respect his talented performance. He is too young to die. His death also remind me of River Phoenix, another talented actor, dying young.
R.I.P Heath Ledger, thanks for bringing such a lot of wondeful scenes to us. T_T
You could have brain tumor by watching this contaminated turd. Nothing in Gentlemen Broncos pays off, it’s incoherent mess, and chock-full of incredibly annoying characters. You will not only loath this movie, but it also makes you want to punch someone who responsible for this abomination in the face.
BloodyMonday Rating:
Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)
Imagine if Akira got Live-Action treatment by... say Alfonso Cuarón, you know how awesome it might be? That’s what happened to "Fantastic Mr. Fox". Wes Anderson's auteur perfectly captured the quirkiness and blissful tone of the material. Its stop-motion technique might be a little crude and... somewhat unsophisticated, but that's the charm of it. You’ll feel like pop-up book unveiled before your eyes. This is an exceptional animation of the year.
Up in the Air is a blockbuster movie for people who think blockbuster movies are dumb, as it chock full of brilliantly written dialogue, and acting showcase for three talented actors (especially star-making turn by Anna Kendrick). But in the end, there's little to love, not so much story to chew on (plus disappointing third act), and no real connection to the meaning of human interaction as it intended to be.
BloodyMonday Rating:
I Love You, Beth Cooper (2009)
Cliché-ridden plot about a bunch of annoying characters get together in one idiotic circumstance, "I Love You, Beth Cooper" is shameless exploitation & biggest insult to 80s teen flicks. It's like memorizing magic trick from internet, hoping to perform like David Copperfield. Neither sense of wonder nor magic flare happens here. Only good thing is, it makes me wanna cleanse my soul with genuine 80s teen movie night marathon.
BloodyMonday Rating:
Everybody's Fine (2009)
Meh. The movie serious lack of originality & characters development. Only Robert De Niro comes out fine in this schmaltzy, "Lifetime" movie-of-the-week plot.
BloodyMonday Rating:
Paper Heart (2009)
Twee delight... That's only two words I can think of right now.
BloodyMonday Rating:
Adam (2009)
A perfect companion to Mary & Max (one of the best animation of 2009), Adam is star-crossed love story (pun intended) between Adam, Asperger's Syndrome bearer, and Beth, free spirit woman. The picture wouldn’t be this intimate without stunning performance by Hugh Dancy. On the other hand, the lack of depth on why Beth would love someone like Adam, preventing me from wholeheartedly embraces her choice in the end (which is nice & perfect but requires a leap of faith). Otherwise, this is touching romantic film, which putting its feet firmly on the ground, making the world full of hope and seems nicer place to live.
BloodyMonday Rating:
The Invention of Lying (2009)
Expected to be like “Click” or “Yes Man”, where high-concept plot turned into endless gags, with moral lesson (forcefully) shoving down your throat. But "The Invention of Lying" is thinking man’s film. The whole concept is not seeing how first lying man exploits the ability. But it's about him finding the way not to lie, in order to find genuine happiness. Great stuff.
BloodyMonday Rating:
Give ‘Em Hell Malone (2009)
This is one damn frustrating experience. It’s like watching an infant trying to stand up and walk. They would take a few steps then fall their asses. In fact, kiddie film like “Bugsy Malone” has done better job paying a tribute to film noir than this borefest.
BloodyMonday Rating:
Zombieland (2009)
ถ้าอังกฤษมีหนังซอมบี้ฮาแตกอย่าง Shaun of the Dead แล้ว ทำไมอเมริกาจะมีบ้างไม่ได้... Zombieland คือการผสมผสานระหว่างบรรดาหนังซอมบี้เก่าๆ เข้ากับทัศนคติของคนสร้างที่อาจดูหนังแนวนี้มากเกินความจำเป็น จนสามารถสร้างหนังซอมบี้ที่เข้าใจสิ่งที่ตัวเองเป็น และเล่นสนุกไปกับกฏพื้นฐานของซอมบี้ได้อย่างเต็มที่ ทั้งนี้ทั้งนั้นต้องยกความดีให้สี่นักแสดงนำ โดยเฉพาะ วู้ดดี้ ฮาเรลสัน (เขาเกิดมาเพื่อบทนี้) ที่ช่วยกันสร้างมนต์เสน่ห์ ให้กับการเดินทางในโลกไร้มนุษย์ได้อย่างเต็มที่
หนังมีไอเดียกิ๊บเก๋ ทำออกมาได้สนุกสนานสไตล์ซิตคอมอังกฤษ โดยเฉพาะการนำกฏเหล็กต่างๆจากหนังที่เกี่ยวกับการท่องเวลา (ดูเหมือนว่า Back to the Future จะเป็นแรงบรรดาลใจหลัก) มาปู้ยี้ปู้ยำอย่างเมามัน ถึงแม้ว่าตลอดเวลาการรับชมจะให้ความรู้สึก เหมือนตัวเองกำลังดูซีรี่ย์ทางโทรทัศน์ แต่มันก็คือตอนที่ฮาที่สุดของซีซั่น แถมเอฟเฟ็คที่ใช้ก็มีคุณภาพจนคาดไม่ถึง
BloodyMonday Rating:
Looking for Eric (2009)
มีความรู้สึกว่าหนังเรื่องนี้มองโลกในแง่ดีเกินบรรยากาศโดยรวม จริงอยู่ว่าทุกสิ่งทุกอย่างที่ลงเอยด้วยดีในตอนสุดท้ายนั้น สามารถสร้างความสุขและรอยยิ้มให้กับคนดู แต่จากสถานการณ์ในเรื่องและบริบทที่เกิดขึ้นก่อนหน้านี้ มันยากที่จะทำใจเชื่อในสิ่งที่เห็น โดยเฉพาะพล็อตรองเกี่ยวกับปืน ซึ่งถ้าถูกตัดออกไปและหนังยังดำเนินเรื่องอย่างที่เป็นอยู่ Looking for Eric ก็น่าจะเป็นหนังฟีลกู้ดที่อบอุ่นที่สุดเรื่องหนึ่งของปีเลยทีเดียว
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That he was near to you
so many a year
But darkens you distress.
Would you he were
less worthy and less dear
That you might grieve the less?
He was a golden font
that freely poured
What goldenly endures,
And though that font be gone,
its bounty stored
and treasured,
Still is yours.
The past is deathless.
Souls are wells too deep
To spend their purest gains.
All that he gave to you
is yours to keep
While memory remains.
Who never had and lost
forlorn are they
Far more that you and I
Who had and have
Judge not the price we pay
For love that cannot die.
"I only do this because I'm having fun. The day I stop having fun, I'll just walk away. I wasn't going to have fun doing a teen movie again.... I don't want to do this for the rest of my life....I don't want to spend the rest of my youth doing this in this industry. There's so much I want to discover."
- Heath Ledger (1979-2008)