THE GREAT BEAUTY

Original Title: La grande bellezza
Directed by: Paolo Sorrentino
Starring: Toni Servillo, Carlo Verdone, Sabrina Ferilli, Carlo Buccirosso, Iaia Forte, Pamela Villoresi, Galatea Ranzi. 
Running Time: 142 min

Jep Gambardella: This is how it always ends. With death. But first there was life, hidden beneath the blah, blah, blah... It's all settled beneath the chitter chatter and the noise, silence and sentiment, emotion and fear. The haggard, inconstant flashes of beauty. And then the wretched squalor and miserable humanity. All buried under the cover of the embarrassment of being in the world, blah, blah, blah... Beyond there is what lies beyond. And I don't deal with what lies beyond. Therefore... let this novel begin. After all... it's just a trick. Yes, it's just a trick.

Anyone familiar with La Dolce Vita from Fellini will understand that this one is a nod to Fellini's classic. Rome is the city of old and new, full with magnificent buildings and relics of the past. Fellini covered Rome in the 60s with empty hedonism.

Now Sorrentino is releasing a whole new story about Rome and its people. In the middle lies Jep Gambardella (Toni Servillo), an aging journalist who had an apartment near the Coliseum in Rome (I wonder that journalists in the third world country might be jealous. Apparently being a journalist in Italy can make you rich).

He drown himself in meaningless parties and talks of high class socialite in Rome. But he didn't feel any happiness at all. His engagement with high class people only shows the decaying picture of high class people in Rome. 

We can see that these people are jaded and cannot do anything else to overcome their boredom. We also see various character surrounding Jep's existence. There's his editor in chief, his pretentious friend, Rome's hasbeens and religious figures. 

They all mixed up together to show us the diversity of Rome. The visual is beautiful, just like the title. But I have to warn you, if you are not used to La Dolce Vita or Rome, Open City, perhaps you will be baffled and confused by the narrative. 

But if you know those two movies, it is good since it can give you (probably you have never set foot in Rome at all) a glimpse on decaying high class in Rome but told in a warm and beautiful way.

THE DOUBLE

Directed by: Richard Ayoade

Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Mia Wasikowska, Wallace Shawn

Running time: 93 minutes

When I heard that Richard Ayoade will try to adapt Dostoevsky's The Double I simply think: what the fuck? Who on earth can adapt such dark novella? Who wanted to finance him?

But Ayoade proves that he can do it and this is a huge departure from coming-of-age-the-Wes-Anderson-way-only-more-british: Submarine (2010). 

Jesse Eisenberg (shot to fame by The Social Network) plays the titular role as Simon, an unhappy salary man in a dreary job (wasn't clear what his job is, but it seems like in statistics). 

Ayoade makes sure that the audience is lost in time and space. It wasn't clear when the story happened, one thing for sure, the people in The Double has no smartphone.

Simon is insignificant in his job, not just because he is shy and socially awkward, but his boss and peers does not consider him to exist at all. His office is bleak, uninspiring and feels like Hungarian offices in 1970s. 

Having a crush on a pretty co-worker, Simon fails to impress her. Until Simon finds another employee that looks like him 100% but have a totally different personality. His name is James and James took the office by storm. His charm and wit conquers everything.

Not even a single soul in the office care to point out that James and Simon looks alike. By this Ayoade points out the alienation of human by work, something most salary man who have worked more than five years in the same office and doing the same thing over and over again could relate.

Is it a ghost? Simon's imagination? Or something else? That is not the point of this stylish film (even the score is amazing, it will remind you of Hitchock's movies), the point is, as a human we should not be imprisoned by structure and make our mark.

A dark but compelling story from Ayoade and a magnificent act from Jesse Eisenberg. Most viewers will not like this film, but if you like something good and provocative, The Double is the answer.

JOE

Directed by: David Gordon Green
Starring: Nicolas Cage, Tye Sheridan
Running time: 117 minutes

When was the last time I saw Nicolas Cage in a good movie? He's a good actor I think, but sometimes he chose bad movies over good one. I remember Adaptation and Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call, New Orleans as his good ones (among many). So what about this one?

Joe Ransom (Nicolas Cage) is a man of restrain. He can explode into violent behaviour in minutes but try to hold himself back. He drinks and have a bulldog as companion. He also had an arch nemesis in that small town.

It wasn't clear what town it is, but it is not modern and it looks rundown with poverty. Joe is friendly and loyal to his crew of laborers. One runaway kid, Gary (Tye Sheridan) suddenly shows up and impress Joe with his work ethic.

But Joe has a troublesome family. His father is a drunkard and his family is dirt poor. Soon everything will comes crashing down and Joe must took severe action to protect Gary from the madness of this world.

Low budget, this one felt a bit southern gothic and present a world where loyalty and friendship as something important. Nicolas Cage is amazing here, he shows that he still got the skill to be a good actor. Is he going to abandon tentpole movies to indie ones? I do hope so. Tye Sheridan (known from Mud and The Tree of Life) is also good, he got talent and his looks is perfect for his role.

Had this been released during Oscar season, Nicolas Cage would easily got nominated. Well, actually that depends on release time and campaign.

LOCKE

Directed by: Steven Knight
Starring: Tom Hardy
Running time: 85 minutes

Few movies reminded me why I love movies. Just like Un Prophete, this one reminded me why I love movie: story that engage the audience in a simple way.

Ivan Locke (Tom Hardy) is just an everyday man. In one fateful night, Locke must decide, whether to finish his professional business as a construction professional or choosing the personal one. 

One journey, one decision that changes everything. Like one quote from this movie: "The difference between once and never is everything". His job and his personal life is connected. As a construction manager he must built a solid ground for a building, so does with his life.

Abandoning his job and chose to finish a personal job, the viewers only get a glimpse of Tom Hardy alone in the car, the whole 85 minutes. Other characters present as voice only vie telephone conversation. Although this premise sounds boring, but it is engaging and thrilling.

Visually, it is also creative. It is not as stagnant as Ten (2002) from Abbas Kiarostami but interspersed with scenes from the highway in a moody tone. Only few directors manage to shine under such restrain, and Knight proves that ideas always triumph beyond special effects and comic book based movies.

Shot digitally in collaboration with cinematographer Haris Zambarloukos, Steven Knight manages to deliver an engaging story that is simple and touching. Tom Hardy is superb and this one is nothing short of brilliant.

NEBRASKA

Directed by: Alexander Payne
Starring: Bruce Dern, Will Forte, June Squibb, Stacy Keach, Bob Odenkirk
Running time: 110 minutes

I always wonder how The Simpsons in real life and now I have the answer in Nebraska, a black and white (since Alexander Payne wanted to produce an "iconic, archetypal look") film about an old man's journey to fulfill his life.

Alexander Payne is the perfect choice for this film, having launched The Descendants into major awards, this one is nominated for six Academy Awards, including best picture. So what's this all about? Woody Grant (Bruce Dern) is an old man who believes that he just won US$1 million. His son, David (Will Forte) knows that it is actually just a scam for magazine subscription and after several funny and stubborn exchanges, decided to play along his father, taking him to Lincoln, Nebraska.

But not before stopping by in Hawthorne where Woody's past and his brothers catch up with him, also with the "news" that Woody won a lot of money. Soon they gather and bicker about anything, from the past, present and off course, the money itself. I like Bruce Dern's act here since he can portray a quirky grandpa with no regrets in life. He is Homer Simpson of real life in Nebraska.

The whole film itself is not as depressive as August: Osage County, but a bittersweet homage to almost extinct American extended family in the Midwest and a reminder to us all, that no matter how old you are, to achieve what you want is worth fighting for.

DALLAS BUYERS CLUB

Directed by: Jean-Marc Vallée
Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Jennifer Garner, Jared Leto
Running Time: 116 minutes

I used to undermine Matthew McConaughey since he was once famous starring in romantic comedies such as The Wedding Planner (2001), How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003), Failure to Launch (2006) and Ghosts of Girlfriends Past (2009). I think there are no big challenges as an actor to act in rom coms, but when this Texan actor takes a U turn with The Lincoln Lawyer (2011) I start to take notice.

His southie accent is something and in Mud (2012) I enjoy his act. So without further introduction I watch this one, which happened to be nominated in major awards this year.  As a skinny rodeo driver, McConaughey act as Ronny Woodroof, an anti hero in the first wave of AIDS plague in the 80s. At first Woodroof is in denial, thinking that only homosexual will get AIDS, not heterosexual like him.

Woodrof who had no degree in pharmacy and infected with HIV, took a turn by overcoming FDA regulations and importing unlicensed medicine (or drugs) which he distributed through his "club", Dallas Buyers Club. The result were impressive although it breaks the law. It is also worth noted that Jared Leto as Rayon/Raymond comes flawless in the screen. Long gone the bearded vocalist of 30 second to Mars, replaced by a suave transgender as Woodroof's sidekick in the club. This odd couple will make the FDA realize their mistakes.

I know such theme (especially since it is loaded with events only those who know what US is in the 80s when facing AIDS epidemic)  is a hard sell among mainstream audiences but if you like a good story and acting, this one worth your time.

12 YEARS A SLAVE

Directed by: Steve McQueen

Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Brad Pitt, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender, Paul Dano

Runtime: 133 minutes

Slavery, upon listening to that word most people will get a hard time recognizing it. It felt like ages ago that people still practice slavery. Although in today's world slavery still existed. In 2012 we have Django Unchained, the pop corn version of slavery, now we have the gritty and uncompromising 12 Years A Slave.

With only two movies before this one (Hunger and Shame), McQueen is gambling his future by taking a very serious theme. The torture and flogging are represented as it is, it will make you flinch and wonder; why does such atrocities happened at all? Don't these slave owner have consciousness or not?

To discuss the historical and socio-cultural aspect of slavery will take so much time so I will just review the movie itself. Chiwetel Ejiofor is Solomon Northrop, a free African American. At that time some African American are free man, not all of them are slaves. One day Solomon got kidnapped and sold as a slave for years, taken away from his family for years and facing numerous act of violence (and kindness) professed not just by the slave owners but fellow slaves too.

What I like from this film is not just the uncompromising violence and depiction of human degradation by another human being, but also the gradation of characters in it. Not all slave owners are maniac like Epps (Michael Fassbender), one is sympathetic like William Ford (Benedict Cumberbatch) although not as 21st century sympathetic, more like a 19th century slave owner sympathetic.

After seeing this I wonder, why such thing ever happened? Why does nobody, not even the slaves, rebel against such deprivation and degradation? Perhaps the answer lies in history books and analysis from expert. Somehow McQueen succeeded in making a gripping tale of human survival and it deserves to win best picture at the BAFTA and nominated for the same category in this year's Oscar.

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.