HER

Directed by: Spike Jonze
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Scarlett Johansson
Running Time: 125 min

In the age of 2.0 everything is simplified, including relationship. Long gone the era of real life stalking preserved only for the creeps and mentally disturbed, now comes the era of digital crush and stalk.

How we show our self in the social media also plays a role in changing our lives. A short film titled Noah (which went viral) shows how facebook, skype and other social media platform change how we relate to each other. Now, what comes of love in this age of scroll and click?

Spike Jonze who disappoint me in Where the Wild Things Are shows a very intimate look on how a non human entity with artificial "humanity" can give a real feeling to a real human being. Joaquin Phoenix is Theodore Twombly, a 40 something divorced guy who lived in future Los Angeles (or Shanghai?). It is not clear which year but it does not matter since what matters is how Theodore finds love in a hopeless place even Rihanna can't find it. He finds it in Samantha (voiced beautifully by Scarlett Johansson) some sort of romantic Siri in iOs.

With her (pun intended), Theodore feels the love he longed. But Samantha isn't real. She has no body, she's just some artificial intelligence consisted of algorithms and stuff. No one can touch her. As their relationship develops, Samantha began to learns that human relationship is very complicated but rewarding.

Her deals with loneliness and the need to belong in someone, to lose yourself spiritually in the age where even talking to each other is very easy. The story is amazing, I really like it and the ending is one of the most bittersweet ending I have seen in a movie. Is it a grim satire? Yes. Is it romantic? Yes. I think it is grim and romantic at the same time.

BLUE IS THE WARMEST COLOR

Original Title: La Vie d'Adèle Chapitre 1 et 2

Directed by: Abdellatif Kechiche
Starring: Adèle Exarchopoulos, Aurelien Recoing, Lea Seydoux, Salim Kechiouche
Running time: 179 mins

Adèle, played by Exarchopoulos, is the main character of the story. She was a young woman in the beginning of this almost three hour drama and a mature one in the second part. A student in the beginning and a teacher in the end. Adèle is confused about her sexuality, she thought she likes men but in the end she realizes that only another woman can make her happy, inside and outside.

After a stroll at the gay bar, she get to know Emma (Lea Seydoux) an art student. They both light a spark and become lovers. First Adèle must face discrimination from her friends and her own feeling, but then as their relationship moves over a "stable" one the problem is not over. Emma's shining career and her dominating intelligence makes Adèle feels lonely and underachieved. The loneliness leads to events that will define her personality and future. The second part felt a bit like The Kids Are All Right (2010), surprisingly it is also about lesbian couples trying to be loyal to each other.

The duration is long, sometimes it is too long and the sex scenes is very graphic. I wonder must this one overly use the graphic sex scene? I think eight minutes for that is too long, what's the point if not to "incite" arousal? If it wants to show emotional connection or how lesbian couples can have "many" ways to satisfy each other, then a four minute scene is enough.

However the acting is amazing, it feels like natural and for the viewer we can sympathize with the characters. Emotionally absorbing, Blue takes the audience to learns that even for lesbian couples, it wasn't easy to stay in a stable relationship. 

This is not just "find the love of your life" or "find someone else if a relationship fails", this is a character study. It feels like they can never get the love they used to have after it all broke down into pieces. Isn't it sad and makes you think: am I going to have the love of my life? Or it has passed away and I will never get it back again?

AMERICAN HUSTLE

Directed by: David O. Russell

Starring: Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper, Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, Jennifer Lawrence
Running time: 138 minutes

Rosalyn Rosenfeld: Life is ridiculous. And you know that I would never say anything bad about your father in front of you, but your father is a sick son-of-a bitch.
Danny Rosenfeld: Daddy's a sick son-of-a-bitch?
Rosalyn Rosenfeld: Don't repeat that... but yes.

I didn't remember the last time I enjoy a crime film, was it a long long time ago in a galaxy far far away? David O. Russell proves that he can take the mantle from Martin Scorsese by delivering us a "funny" crime story. Loosely based on the FBI ABSCAM operation of the late 1970s and early '80s, this one reunites Christian Bale and Amy Adams for The Fighter (2010); Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, and Robert De Niro for Silver Linings Playbook (2012).

The story is how an FBI agent, Richie DiMaso (Bradley Cooper) who employ to con artist Irving Rosenfeld (Christian Bale), with his girlfriend and partner-in-crime Sydney Prosser (Amy Adams) to frame some government officials in New Jersey. They all have their own motives. Richie wanted to climb up the rank and be popular. Meanwhile Irving just wanted to escape the FBI by doing the job and Sydney is torn between Richie and Irving.

Irving himself has a wife, Rosalyn (Jennifer Lawrence), some sort of trophy wife but with an easygoing and sometimes erratic personality. The rest of the story is a thrill. Somehow I don't get it why the FBI wanted to hire con artists to do their job, don't they got people to do that? I can feel the aura of Goodfellas and some Coen brother's movies here. Blending black comedy and drama, David O. Russell direction is getting better.

As usual in the acting category Christian Bale triumphs. There is no sign of Bruce Wayne at all, he is a fat and nervous Irving Rosenfeld. As for Jennifer Lawrence, she shines here. The rest is okay, I relish upon the fact that Robert De Niro is here, although for some brief moment. Some of her lines made me chuckle. The twist by the end is very smart. It reminded me of Matchstick Men (2002) or Ocean's trilogy with a touch of Scorsese.

SOKOLA RIMBA

Directed by: Riri Riza
Starring: Prisia Nasution, Beindah, Dery Tanjung, Ines Somellera, Nengkabau, Nyungsang Bungo    
Run Time: 90 Minutes

Actually I was afraid of this film. I was afraid that this one will shove down shallow nationalism down my throat. I am afraid that this one will bu just another Indonesian movie trying so hard to force the viewers to love their country not in a subtle way.

But my fears were proven to be wrong. After all this is Riri Riza (backed by Mira Lesmana again as the producer), not just some generic director. He managed to escape that sort of "crass nationalism" in Atambua 39 Degrees Celsius. The title itself means "School of the jungle" and jungle is where most of the actions are.

Based on true story, Butet Manurung (Prisia Nasution) is a teacher for children of the Kubu tribe (indigenious people in Jambi, Sumatera) located in National Park Bukit Dua Belas Jambi. She teaches the kids how to count and to read, a skill most of them are not good at. The kids are nice and eager to learn more. But problems arose from Butet's office and political conditions affect her work. She wanted the kids to be smart and literate, but the obstacle is not just from her office, some people from Kubu tribe thinks of her as a jinx. Can she overcome that? Butet herself has wrote a book about her activity. The book has the same title as this film.

I have to say this film is well done. I know it must be difficult to shoot in the National Park itself. Not to mention directing real Kubu kids to act. They are not professional actors, they are the Kubu people living in the national park.

What I like from this one is how natural things are. It does not have over the top dialogue preaching about education, and it also does not condemn government. Sokola Rimba is special because only few Indonesian films are willing to show folks in the town another face of Indonesia. Not just the acting, but the cinematography manages to capture the forest in a warm visual. However the duration is too short and it feels as if everything was rushed to achieve the ending. I wish it was at least two hours.

EPIC JAVA

Directed by: Febian Nurrahman Saktinegara
Writer: Galih Mulya Nugraha
Run Time: 30 minutes

This film has no connection to Java Heat whatsoever, programming language or a cup of coffee. This is a short documentary made by Febian Nurrahman Saktinegara. It has no story, just a non-narrative short documentary about the beautiful Java landscape. Some by live video, some by time-lapse. According to the site jakartavenue.com this project started as Febian Nurrahman Saktinegara went to Jogja for a holiday.

He shoot some scenes and upload a teaser video titled Mysterious Ashes - Epic Java in youtube. From there, things escalated quickly. This project once was a hot thread in kaskus.com (Indonesia's leading internet forum) and then it goes to wujudkan.com (crowdfunding site), to get more money so Epic Java can be made.

Febian cooperated with Arie Naftali Hawuhede, Galih Mulya Nugraha and Denny Novandi Ryan (as music composer and sound designer). This small team visited 50 locations across Java and spent one year filming a lot of things. According to Galih the story start as the sun rises in the east until it set in the west.

With minimal gadgets and cameras they managed to give a beautiful presentation. I have to say, after I seen this at Jakarta International Film Festival two weeks ago, that it met my expectation. The music is amazing, it can fill up the air with wonders.

Somehow Epic Java reminded me of Ron Fricke's Chronos, Samsara, Baraka and Koyaaniqsatsi. I can understand the limitations the crew had so this one is just a short documentary. I applaud their spirit and creativity to make the project possible. I feel lucky to be able to watch it. If only this one is more than 30 minutes and released commercially at the cinemas, perhaps more people can appreciate it better.

GRAVITY

Directed by: Alfonso Cuaron
Starring: George Clooney, Sandra Bullock

Run Time: 91 min

Space, the final frontier. This time Alfonso Cuarón visit the outer space to gives us the eerie thrill of being alone, literally. Not a science fiction or a politically charged theme, but a simple tale of survival. Some might relate this one with 2001: A Space Odyssey for the space scenes. Actually I have seen this two months ago but decided to write this now so later I can put a link on my best 2013 movies article.

Just like the title, this one will drag you here and there, even gasping for breath. Space debris threat the astronaut in space left Dr Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock) and Matt Kowalski (George Clooney) floating in space. Alone and lost, they have to survive to stay alive. What happened with the other astronaut? Sadly they are dead.

The visual is amazing, it makes you scratch your head and say: "How the fuck does Cuarón put camera in space?". Here, visual effect plays a major role. It takes you into space and in 3D it looks amazing.

Created through a painstaking combination of physical and digital performance, I think it might get a nomination for best visual effects at the Oscar next year. What about the story? I think the story is just okay. It is not "amazing", although some scenes left you breathless, it is just okay. Sure any male would relish seeing that Sandra Bullock still look sexy at that age, but the story of survival seems a bit "made up".

Some know that the orbit of Hubble Telescope, International Space Station and other space objects are not of the same height. However the story make it as if it was "near". It is not a problem for me, but I think I expect more from Gravity. I expect a slightly philosophical tone, which is non existence here. Okay you can say that the loneliness here is something philosophical. However as a whole this is a good film, but not "the best" from Alfonso Cuarón.

METALLICA: THROUGH THE NEVER 3D

Directed by: Nimród Antal
Starring: Dane DeHaan, Metallica
Running time: 93 minutes

The greatest heavy metal band in this planet deserves an epic treatment. This time with 3D and IMAX 3D experience where metal heads everywhere can witness and watch the epic roar of James Hethfield, Kirk Hammett, Robert Trujillo and Lars Ulrich. Just like any other concert movies, it is hard to judge this film.

If you are not a Metallica fan, you'd rather skip this film. It has no explanation for non fans, but full with inner Metallica reference. Two third of this film is the concert, and it is unlike any concert. To maximize the use of 3D, the props, pyro and laser were brought in to make an experience as if the viewers were at the front row of the concert itself.

While the other one third is a surreal adventure of a young Leonardo DiCaprio lookalike (Dane DeHaan) as a roadie for Metallica. This silent roadie has to fuel a truck in an unknown place while stuck between a battle between cops and rioters, plus a demon outside the arena. Unleashing barrage of their hits, this is a must-see concert movie, for the experience alone.

The technical aspect is amazing. 3D enhance the experience, the visual depth is also something. This is a tasteful 3D movie, not being a whore by throwing everything at the screen to wow the audience. Some might wonder what is the connection between the concert and the roadie's adventure. I myself cannot comment on the surreal scenes of the roadie intertwined with the concert since it is too surreal.

 

Perhaps it is inspired by the song lyrics or Metallica's history or perhaps DeHaan's appearance is to make a reach for younger generation who are still wearing diapers as The Unforgiven released. However his acting is good, and I liked the fact that he had no dialogue at all, it makes the mystery and solidify Metallica's brand. I also liked that this one is R-Rated, it does not hold back but unleash the power of creativity.

One cannot refuse to acknowledge that the charisma of the four members itself add a certain quality. Nimrod Antal is the master of puppets here and he proves that he can pull some strings. So is it a good film? Off course it is since I am a Metallica fan. With Metallica, the apocalypse never sounded so good.

THE KINGS OF SUMMER

 

Directed by: Jordan Vogt-Roberts
Starring: Gabriel Basso, Moises Arias, Nick Robinson
Runtime: 95 mins

I have no idea why 15 year old teenager who comes from a middle class family with no history of domestic abuse want to flee the warmth and comfort of their house. Perhaps it's a phase in their life where they do not want to do chores or willing to live like an adult (as they become an adult who has to pay bills and stuff, they wanted to get back to the old days) under the blue sky.

However the comfort of the house most people in the third world countries dream off does not make Joe Toy (Nick Robinson) happy. He hated is controlling father and ask Patrick (Gabriel Basso), his best friend to run away and built a house in the forest. Then a weird kid named Biaggio (Moises Arias) tag along.

Together they built a house from scraps. I have no idea why a bunch of 15 year old has the ability to built a somewhat decent house, perhaps they Google it first. The forest itself is not a wild forest, it is more like a city forest where they can take a 10 minute stroll to the nearest supermarket. Together they live in the forest with many ups and downs, until one girl come along. It is a lesson of being an adult and a phase they will not forget for the rest of their lives.

Lighter than Mud and Stand By Me, this is an entertaining coming of age movie suitable for everyone. The comedy is not gross but enough. Another plus point is the use of indie soundtrack with a nice montage to help with the story. This Sundance hit is something you do not want to miss on the Original Soundtrack section at the recording store (who still buys original recording? Oh people I think). What I like is that the actors are not famous (not yet) so it gives the sense of natural and believability.

BEFORE MIDNIGHT

Directed by: Richard Linklater

Starring: Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy

Running time: 109 minutes

Seldom that the third film in a trilogy manages to equalize, or even surpass the second and the first. But that is not the case with the third film of Before Sunrise and Before Sunset trilogy. The last time we met Celine and Jesse, they were not a couple and it was 2004 in Before Sunset. Jesse was still married to his wife and accidentally bumps into Celine in Paris.

Loyal to the strength of the dialogue, Midnight examines what happened after the princess say "I do" at the altar. Was it a constant happy ending or is it just another beginning? How do they keep the spark alive? Does when two people grow together they grew apart? Now Celine and Jesse already a couple. They are together and having two girls, while Jesse still taking care his son from his previous marriage.

They are forty something couple, Jesse is now successful with being a writer and Celine consider trying to work for the government. Meanwhile Jesse wanted to move back to Chicago so he can be closer to his son. Rift happens between these two and we learns that keeping people together is more difficult than saying I love you.

Sure, they are happy, but they also realized that their happiness is another door to another problem, that their personal pursuit might come at the expense of their loved ones. There's a lot of talking here, just like the previous two movies but here lies the strength of the film. The witty, quirky dialogue is the one that can make you think, laugh, even cry. It bites and makes us realize, no matter how old you are, that love is a delicate thing worth fighting for. Here, Richard Linklater score a hat-trick where he can make three films equally good in quality.

MUD

Directed by: Jeff Nichols

Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Tye Sheridan, Sam Shepard, Reese Witherspoon

Running time: 130 minutes

Do you remember when your childhood is consisting of having real adventures in the wild instead of gluing your butt to play video games? Some might remember it and if your childhood spend with real adventures, you have a good one.

The third film from Jeff Nichols (after Shotgun Stories and Take Shelter, all featuring Michael Shannon) still covers American South, this time set in a small town next to the Mississippi river and it brings us to the two main characters, Ellis (Tye Sheridan, known for his role in The Tree of Life) and Neckbone (Jacob Lofland) to a certain adventure that wil change their life forever.

The two boys set to a deserted island to find an old boat. But then they encounter Mud (Matthew McConaughey), a fugitive who claims the boat and on the run because he killed a man who hurt his lover, Juniper (Reese Witherspoon). The boys are mesmerized by the heroic tale of Mud. They did not once being skeptical on the story at all.

Knowing that these boys can be useful, Mud sent them to the town to collect stuff so the boat can be flown and Mud can meet Juniper. As for Ellis himself, he has parents but they are not a good role model, so he sees a big brother figure in Mud, while Neckbone looks up to Ellis. The naive Ellis is about to learn the lesson of friendship, coming of age and love.

Nothing turns out as expected and it shows good acting from the three leading actors. The river play a major part here, representing adventure and chances, while supporting characters are also interesting like Neckbone's loving uncle, acted by Michael Shannon and Mud's so called father figure that change the course of events.

It is a film about Southerner in their homeland and it is a good story. I really liked it on how Nichols managed to tell a coming of age from the teenager's point of view. It reminded me of my own childhood, although I did not grew up next to a river, that adventure is out there!