OF GODS AND MEN

Directed by: Xavier Beauvois

Original title: Des hommes et des dieux

As I read the title, it makes me frowned, 'Was it just another over the top movie with preachy messages?'. However I was wrong, although the pacing is slower than the fastest snail on a race, but it was good, in fact a bit amazing and not preachy at all.

Based on the true story of nine French monks who lived peacefully among the majority Muslim population in Algeria in the 90s, it adds an element of 'reality' into the film. If you happen to google what happened there, the story is scary, seven of the monks were captured and beheaded by a group of religious extremists.

It could be a movie about blood and over dramatic scenes but director Xavier Beauvois dives into the psychological aspect of the monks. Here we can see how the monks and the majority Muslim population lives side by side respecting each others faith and there are lengthy scenes of the monks praying, giving new perspective for the viewer. The monks also provide free health care for the villagers, something the villagers really appreciate.

Beauvois has successfully made a clear distinction between the peaceful Muslim villagers and the extremists on the difference of the level of their tolerance and the way they treat each other.

Trouble comes as the so called extremist ruin the peace and the monks are faced with difficult choices; to leave the village they loved or stay there and be true to their mission at any price.

The tone of the film is very peaceful and the acting is just okay by not focusing on just one character, but if you pay close attention you can get the message of this film.

For action movie lovers, this film which close French Film Festival in Indonesia will make you snore, but for those who wanted to watch something meditative and different, this one is a must.

SUCKSEED

Directed by: Chayanop Boonprakob

Original Title: SuckSeed Huay Khan Thep

I'm in the mood for romantic comedy and anything lighter than wafer, so I stumble upon this. First I have seen the trailer and judging from that I have a feeling that this one will be hilarious, and I am right.

This is the sort of film that will remind you about your younger days, that is if you were young and nice.

Coming from GTH, a successful production house from Thailand which has given South East Asian viewers with Shutter, Alone and Phobia this one will make you laugh and realize that our neighbor Thailand has better story to tell than most if Indonesian film.

Look at the simplicity of the story, a boy who fell in love with a girl but keep the feeling for himself. In the hand of mediocre Indonesian filmmaker it will be one boring Jakarta centric story, but here, it is down to earth. No overly handsome loser who dreams of a perfect girl, they are just ordinary people with daily problems.

Ped had fallen in love with Ern since he were just a kid, he even try to sing his own song and send the tape to Ern. But one phone call at night to Ern's house make Ped change his mind, Ped lies to Ern's parents that he is Koong, Ped's best friend. It happened as they were kids and it lead to future complication.

Flash forward to 2006 as they are already in high school, Ped (Jirayu Laongmanee) still keep his feelings for Ern (Nattacha Nauljam) deep down inside. Ped still hang out with Koong (Pachara Chirathivat) who lives in the shadow of his successful twin brother, Kay who plays lead guitar in a better rock band called The Arena.

Trying to have his own spotlight, Koong try to form a band consisting of him as the lead guitarist, Ped as the bassist and a new kid, Ex (Thawat Pornrattanaprasert) as the drummer. Guess what, who Koong will ask as another guitarist? Ern.

First Koong just want to attract girls by forming a band, but as they spent time together he too have feelings for Ern and that make things more complicated for Ped. Will the unity of the band destroyed by a normal love triangle?

Accompanied by so many Thai music I am not familiar with (lucky for me even the songs has subtitles!) I am entertained to the maximum. Aside from the music and the incorporation of what seem to be Thai's famous musicians whom I do not known at all, the acting is believable and Pachara Chirathivat steals the scene.

As for the story it is just a so-so teen rom com but the deliverance is very successful and can make you lough out loud plus reminding you of the glorious days of your time in high school. As for me this is more fun to watch than that pseudo artsy fartsy Uncle Boonme who can recall his Past Lives.

I know it is not a fair thing to put these two films on the same table, but we watch movies to enjoy it right? Regardless whether it is just a simple rom com or some dialogue heavy court room drama.

ELITE SQUAD 2

Original Title: Tropa de Elite 2 - O Inimigo Agora É Outro

Directed by: Jose Padilha

Sequels with numbers usually sucks and falls to the trap that everything must be bigger and more explosives and sometimes sequels without number sucks too and falls to the same trap.

Only few stand out as equal or better than the first installment, just like The Godfather Part II that can stand tall with The Godfather as for this, I was a bit skeptic at the beginning.

I mean how can the same person who made the first Tropa de Elite could top their own creation? But after seeing this I am stunned, this sequel, although titled with a number (something I hate) is like what The Dark Knight do to Batman Begins, a better sequel with better substance.

If you forgot what happened at the first film, you can click the link above which will direct you to my own review. The first film was stunning, the degree of violence and nihilism is prevalent, not to mention realistic visualization and story that, in my opinion, can be understood pretty well by Indonesian people.

I mean corrupt cops and officials? We have plenty of them here. Okay, enough of that let's get back to the film.

Ten years after the event of the first film, Captain Nasciemento (Wagner Maura) is becoming a scapegoat as his special police unit kill a drug dealer in a prison. It is all because a human right activist who happen to be a leftist and a liberal, Fraga (Irandhir Santos) make a noise about it in the media. Fraga himself married to Nascimento's ex wife, making things more complicated.

To save face, the government didn't fire Nasciemento but made him a security intelligence, a behind the desk position. While his sidekick, Captain André Matias (André Ramiro) is demoted to another police division, a corrupt division.

At the beginning Nascimento think he can change the system by eliminating drug dealers thus police corruption. But he unleash another monster, having lack of income from drug dealers, the corrupt cops turns to control the favelas (Rio De Janeiro's slum) and more bodies fall.

From there rise Russo (Sandro Rocha), a corrupt cop who become too corrupt and connected with a politician, Fortunado (André Mattos). This is an election year and every vote from the slum is important.

Things went awry as Nascimento's ideals, Fraga's activity and politics vs crime become one awful mix. Can he change the system? Who must die for his war and does it all worth it?

On paper and on trailer it looks like just another crime drama, but this one is a bit complicated and smart. It reminds me with Infernal Affairs but with better action and shootout.

As for the actions scenes, there weren't that plenty but effective and engaging. Michael Mann, be careful, Padilha can top your Heat shootout scenes.

Some aspect are specific to Brazilian people, but I can find the universal message that change takes time, what to do in a lawless situation and sometimes you wonder why everything is so bleak just for the sake of greed.

This is a good film not to be missed it thrills you and thought provoking. A better sequel to watch.

INSIDE JOB

The film that cost $20,000,000,000,000 to make


Directed by: Charles Ferguson

Although I read much about the global economic meltdown of 2008 in the news I only know few things like collapsing companies, foreclosures, people being out of job and the 700 billion dollar bailout package. Basically just the big picture.

I don't know anything about sub prime, derivatives or even hedge fund. Those are strange things for me and reading those Wall Street Journal editorials are a bit of a pain for a simpleton like me.

However, this film has explain the why and who of the global economic meltdown, complete with the explanation of those specific financial terms which is enlightening for me.

I cannot explain in my own words what's sub prime and their friends are, I don't even know what's Goldman Sachs, Lehman Brothers or Merryl Lynch is and the only information I got about AIG prior to the crisis is they sponsored Manchester United football club, that's it. So if you are still wondering, Google and dozens of books will help you to understand it better.

However, unlike Michael Moore's Capitalism a Love Story which address almost similar matters, this one is not political or trying to be funny at all.
Narrated by Matt Damon, this one enter legions of documentary narrated by famous people. Why using Matt Damon? I think the film maker want to raise awareness by this, since this film will appear at Matt Damon's filmography page and people who have no idea what's going on will try to watch this one.

Divided by chapters as in book chapters, it is an easy to follow story with heart wrenching end, that the cause of all of this mess is simply greed and how those smart people in Wall Street robbed ordinary American only to make them rich.

The worst is yet to come, the people who let these atrocities happened doesn't even go to jail, they are getting richer and those government policy makers are still on their throne.

The lobbyist also have spent five billion US dollar to lobby both side of the aisle so they, in a simple word, can get off easy robbing people without any government regulation at all. All because this open market has no regulation at all and all attempt to do it will be killed by those powerful people.

What makes me sad is how the academics, the one common people rely if the politicians cannot be trusted at all, are also taken part in this complex web of deception.

I wonder, is this human nature to be greed? This documentary is a wake up call to anyone who is involved in financial sectors and a nice lesson for us, common people who have no idea what those white collar people are doing behind closed doors.

Filled with so many interviews this one is not boring and a decent Oscar winner in the category of Best Documentary feature. This one is also a perfect companion to Wall Street and Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps (both are my favorite) and if you are majoring in economic or finance, a must see.

IN A BETTER WORLD

Directed by: Susanne Bier

Original title: Hævnen

Whenever there's a film winning Oscar's Best Foreign Language category, I am interested to see it.

I think that category is the most interesting at all, giving us windows about a world we rarely see. Besides there's always be something nice to know beyond Hollywood. So with high expectation I watch this one, the one that had won and I am a bit disappointed.

Sure the theme of revenge and redemption is well played here, but it is not as good as Biutiful (I haven't seen the other nominees besides Biutiful). Not that this one is bad, it is just, as a winner, it doesn't provoke my thoughts. Is it because I have seen movies with similar theme? Or am I looking for something more that I haven't been able to express it with words yet? I don't know for sure.

Sure it is nice and I can get what the director is trying to say. It just doesn't left me speechless at all.

However, to make my blog sound sophisticated, I shall review this film. The original Danish title is Hævnen, which means The Revenge and that makes much more sense in terms of a title instead of In a Better World. I don't know why the translation of the title can be so different than the real meaning from the real title. Commercial purposes?

Span in two continents, Europe and Africa the tale of revenge, fatherhood and redemption is nicely told.

It is not a global story about some pretentious artsy stuff, it is a family story. Elias (Markus Rygaard) is a 12 year old boy who used to be bullied at school. His father, Anton (Mikael Persbrandt) is a doctor in a war torn Sudan. Anton himself is in a process to divorce his wife.

Elias found a friend in Christian (William Jøhnk Nielsen), a new student who bravely defend Elias as Elias about to be beaten by the school thug. Christian himself is an angry boy, unable to convey his emotional loss after his mother passed away to his cold father.

Soon things start to unravel, Anton must face the dilemma in his profession and a revenge act by Christian left everyone shocked. The adults and the children learn something out of their actions.

Preaching revenge is bad is something this film is trying to do, and it is successful. However the happy ending tone of this film gives hope instead of grim premonition that if people do something, they can avert disaster. It is not the sort of sugar coated Hollywood happy ending that can be negated by grim ending, but the realistic one that we can believe.

Speaking of revenge, I have this strange idea of putting this film slightly below I saw the Devil, Old Boy and Confession. I don't know why, those movies are darker and brutal in tone but has almost the same message about revenge; that we as human might learn something from it, whether it resulted in bad or good end.

BIUTIFUL

Directed by: Alejandro Inarritu

Marginalized people who lives underground tend to live under fear and degradation, but they do have hopes and dreams too, at least that what this film tries to convey.

Telling a story about a sympathetic criminal middleman named Uxbal (Javier Bardem in his magnificent role) this is a story about underground life in Barcelona. There's illegal Senegelase and Chinese immigrant with corrupt cop pressing in to Uxbal.

To make matters more interesting; Uxbal is a single father, separated from his bipolar ex-wife, Marambara (Maricel Alvarez) and took care of his children in his small apartment.

Uxbal learns that he had a prostate cancer and his days are numbered. So he tried his best to manage his chaotic life and business while seeking redemption and understanding.

Nominated for an Oscar for both Best Foreign Film and Best Actor (Javier Bardem), this is the story not only about fatherhood but slightly political by exposing the harsh conditions the illegal immigrants have to face in order to earn money better than in their homeland.

Visually poetic without being pretentious, this one is more enjoyable than Uncle Boonme, especially since both films have almost the same theme; facing death and the illusion of life itself.

You don't have to be smart or pretended to be some intellectual tech savvy to understand some symbols or the disjointed scenes in this film, this one is accessible, in terms of understanding, by almost any viewers since it doesn't try to be ueber-artsy. Even to those people who watch mainstream movies only.

This is important to me since films like these have power to reach the masses, not some elitist film trying so hard to be smart, but a smart and soulful movie trying to be populist.

Although it is a 'dark' story that hangs heavily on Uxbal's fate (also Bardem's charisma) but still pleasant to watch because here we can see that beauty and misery can live side by side and people 'trapped' in this condition have a very limited choice in their life, make us ponder deeply before we judge people.

Uxbal is not a usual criminal, he is not brutal or cruel, he looks like a guy who just want to make ends meet. But since his choices seem to be limited, this is the one he can do. He is sympathetic to the illegal immigrants although it has a tragic consequences. He is not a bad man, but he works in a bad world.

For a 'dark' film, I think Biutiful (a misspell from Uxbal's daughter) is beautiful and offers hope. Uxbal finally comes to terms with his condition and move beyond desperation to appreciate the preciousness of life. Some deep thought in there eh?

Shot mostly in hand held, it makes the feeling of intimacy more stronger. What makes me wonder is technical aspect of this film. As I watch it at the cinema, the aspect ratio changes from wide screen to letterbox. I don't know why, was it technical adjustment? However it doesn't disturb at all.

As for me I am familiar with Inarritu's work, and together with Amores Perros, Babel and 21 Grams, this one is my favorite since somewhere between good and amazing, lies Biutiful.

THE ILLUSIONIST

Directed by: Sylvain Chomet

The title can make you confused with the title of the same movie title released in 2006. The difference is the one released in 2006 is a live action starring Edward Norton and this one released in 2010 as an animation movie but the similarities is one; both portraying a magician.

With pictures as if it sprung up from watercolor painting, The Illusionist manage to deliver the story with minimum dialogue as possible. The beauty of the animation will remind you of Miyazaki's animated movies (although this one is a bit dark in theme) and this one doesn't need any translation at all, anyone can understand the story.

The story is about an old magician named Tatischeff who lives in the 50s. He performs standard magic tricks like pulling bunnies of a hat and flowers out of thin air. He fails to amuse audience from halls to halls. Eventually he ended up in Scotland, amusing some villagers, especially a young woman named Alice. They both strike a chemistry and Alice follows Tati everywhere he goes even to Paris.

But Tati's carreer doesn't get much better, he still fails to amuse broad audience. Staying with Alice in a hotel, Alice helps Tati with daily chores and Tati buys her shoes and dress. Soon the paternal relationship grows.

Money is still a problem, Tati has to work night shift at the garage and since he is inexperienced, he got fired. Does Tati manage to enchant Alice to stay by his side? Does Alice enjoy her choice being embedded with Tati?

In a poetic but silent conclusion, the audience can get the central theme of this film; that sometimes even magic cannot face the face of change.

Beautifully animated, in the age of sugar coating CGI, this one is a reminder that classic animation look can still triumph. In my opinion, this one deserve to win an Oscar instead of that over rated Toy Story 3.

TRUE GRIT

Directed by: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen

I like western movies, especially the one with standoff and gritty characters. I enjoy the Spaghetti Western trilogy and The Quick and the Dead. Western movies makes me want to ride a horse and eat some steak.

As far as I know, this film is a remake of the film of the same title which was released in 1969, as for me I haven't seen the John Wayne version but upon hearing that the Coens are behind this, I am intrigued.

Mattie (Hailee Steinfeld) is a 14 year old girl seeking to avenge the death of his father. In her mission she employ, with her superb talent of persuading and pushing people with words, Marshal Cogburn (Jeff Bridges) to track down Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin), the one who killed her father. 'Joining' the band is LaBoeuf (Matt Damon) a Texas Ranger who also hunt Cheney. As expected the three ara at odds with each other but as the mission goes by they find out that they needed each other more then they thought of. This is a tale of vengeance, friendship and loyalty in the unforgiving wild-wild west where brutal man like Cogburn is needed to establish justice.

What makes this one interesting is the bonding between these three main characters isn't over the top with sugar coated sentimentality. There's no doubt that Mattie is clever but her judgment of people improved during the journey and Cogburn, initially dismissing Mattie as just some teen having too much rage, began to appreciate Mattie's enthusiasm. As for LaBoeuf, his character transformed from just some annoying Texas ranger to a loyal and helpful friend.

As for the language, here is where the Coens are masterful. The extensive use of accent and swear words is perfectly and colorfully tuned into the dialogue.

This is perhaps the first time Coen brothers make a straight genre movie and surprisingly it works. For core fans, it doesn't feel like a Coen movie filled with darkness and cross genre, but it still feel good. The acting and cinematography is amazing, Jeff Bridges gives the maximum performance he can give and Hailee Steinfeld is plain amazing.

I never thought that Coens can make a good western as this one, and the 10 Oscar nomination is very justified. This is one of the best in 2010 and a reminder to us that remakes aren't always bad.

WAITING FOR 'SUPERMAN'

Directed by: Davis Guggenheim

The title is misleading, a lot of people would have thought this one is about searching for the new Superman after Brandon Routh. But this one is about the failing of educational system in United States. So for superhero movie fans who doesn't like a documentary movies consisted with people talking serious stuff and statistical graphics, this is not for them.

As for me I am not familiar with educational systems in the states, however this one gives me an insight that even in a country that has sent a man to the moon, there is something wrong with their educational system.

Guggenheim focuses on an African-American educator named Geoffrey Canada, who happens to be an idealist and has successfully open Harlem Success Academy, a successful charter school [school made and for the public] in the poorest area in Harlem.

Canada has a solution for failing systems; better teachers, highly paid and qualified. Although it is told that not all charter school successful but what Canada did was something nice, he gives back to the society.

Then this documentary spotlight the problems, like the difficulties to fire unqualified teacher, the teacher's union politics [I seriously doubt that teacher's union are evil as portrayed in this film, sure everything has a bad side but a union is meant to protect teachers from being discriminated in terms of profession, however the teacher's union in the states need to be reformed, I think] which hindered reformation in education and the educational system itself.

Not only on education, this one follows the fate of several children from low income to high income families who strive to get a placement in charter school. Since the seats are limited but the applicants are many, a lottery need to be made. Sounds fair but cruel. The one that made the cut has the chance for cheap and better education, the one that fails has to be sent home with big disappointment.

According to this film, public schools are failing and something serious need to be done sure. As for the title, it is an irony that people wait other people to save them from peril, sometimes all it takes is just one self action to save our self.

Now seeing the condition of educational qualities, teacher's and school in Indonesia I think this documentary is a nice insight for us to make education better and accessible for everyone, not just some commodity to earn cash or to elevate social status.

Sure as a documentary it tend to be subjective and you need to cross check the facts itself but as an idea that education should be good and available to everyone is a universal idea we share no matter where we come from.

WINTER'S BONE

Directed by: Debra Granik.

The fearless young female heroine, one of my favorite character, the one with no super powers or weapons but have the will to do what she think, the best for her.

As for myself, I didn't know the existence of this film if this one didn't get Oscar nomination for best picture.

The heroine is Ree Dolly (Jennifer Lawrence) a 17 year old girl who took care her younger brother and sister in the city of Ozark. Ozark itself looked like a Dumpville with trash and crappy stuff scattered all over the place. Everyone in Ozark has known a criminal, related with them and some are ex and soon to be criminal. Not a nice place to grow, especially for Ree who has to depend on neighbor's kindness even for daily food.

Ree's father, Jessup has been missing the deadline to show up at court and if he fails to whos up, the house Ree lived in will be taken by the government. Jessup has put his house and estate as the bail. So like it or not, Ree has to look for his father to save their house.

The road to find her father is tricky with other people refusing to give her some help but Ree will not give up, no matter what happened she has to be the family leader and save the day. What happened to her father and will she be able to survive the harshness of life and the threat of eviction? This is a heart breaking tale of survival that makes you think that in moments of harshness it is very important for family to stick up together.

Jennifer Lawrence is brilliant in this film, she can be fierce and strong while other actors and actresses are also amazing to watch, especially Teardrop (John Hawkes), Ree's uncle who is as fierce as Ree's. Even the dialogue itself is unique, they speak in an implicit way that seems to sprung up from Cormac McCarthy novels. Filled with tensions not fueled by crappy soundtracks but with silence with pauses that makes you think deeply, this one deserve an Oscar nomination in the category of Best Picture plus a nod for the talented Jennifer Lawrence.