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Post by kendra on Jun 26, 2006 13:51:34 GMT
Morning everyone. I'm back from my holiday and evidently have a LOT of catching up to do... While I was away I watched my cousin's favourite film on DVD and wanted to recommend it to you all. It's called 'My Life Without Me' and it stars Sarah Polley (from Go and other films - there is one where she plays a Scandinavian immigrant but I can't remember the title right now and can't be arsed to IMDb, sorry). It's also got Debbie Harry and Mark Ruffalo and Amanda Plummer (hunnybunny in Pulp Fiction). The director is Catalan, like me, and her name is Isabel Coixet. She's also directed Things I Never Told You and The Secret Life of Words', which I plan to watch next. I hesitate to give away any of the plot but I really cannot recommend My Life Without Me highly enough. It is a beautiful, beautiful movie. So understatedly touching and sad, but full of life and hope at the same time. "My life withouth me" is a wonderful film about self improvement and hope. Sarah Polley was for me a true revelation thrugh the film, and of course Mark Ruffalo is always great -I'd recommend another film in which Mark is coprotagonist with Laura Linney: "You can count on me" -a Kenneth Lonnergan film of 2000- As you were commenting about catalan director Isabel Coixet, I'm quite fond of her, you'll know I live in Tarragona now, and althought I'm not a big fan of Catalan cinema -I can't stand directors/actors as Ventura Pons or Jordi Mollà, I'd consider Isabel as an exception, since her ambition is more international. I look forward to seeing her film "The secret life of words" -where the stars are Sarah Polley , Tim Robbins and Javier Camara- Do you remember when she received the Goya Awards? Miss Wasabi was so funny with her trademark glasses! I'm glad there are Catalan Jake fans here!
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zoo
GyllenJack Nasty
Posts: 148
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Post by zoo on Jun 26, 2006 15:20:46 GMT
"My life withouth me" is a wonderful film about self improvement and hope. Sarah Polley was for me a true revelation thrugh the film, and of course Mark Ruffalo is always great -I'd recommend another film in which Mark is coprotagonist with Laura Linney: "You can count on me" -a Kenneth Lonnergan film of 2000- As you were commenting about catalan director Isabel Coixet, I'm quite fond of her, you'll know I live in Tarragona now, and althought I'm not a big fan of Catalan cinema -I can't stand directors/actors as Ventura Pons or Jordi Mollà, I'd consider Isabel as an exception, since her ambition is more international. I look forward to seeing her film "The secret life of words" -where the stars are Sarah Polley , Tim Robbins and Javier Camara- Do you remember when she received the Goya Awards? Miss Wasabi was so funny with her trademark glasses! I'm glad there are Catalan Jake fans here! I loved You Can Count On Me! I think Laura Linney is an absolute class act. Did you know Kenneth Lonergan himself plays the Catholic priest? I've been gone for so long I know very little about Catalan cinema - it sounds like you know a lot more than me! And I've never watched the Goyas - I'd love to see Isabel accepting hers, but I don't know who Miss Wasabi is. Is there a link anywhere? Hooray for Catalan Jake fans, indeed! Do you speak Catalan? (This is weird, we are conducting two conversations at one - it feels a little schizophrenic...)
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marie
GyllenJunior
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Post by marie on Jun 26, 2006 17:31:31 GMT
My Life Without Me is an excellent movie, zoo. So sad and melancholy yet oddly uplifting, too. Geez, did I ball my eyes out at this movie. Sarah Polley is truly awesome. So understated. And I loved Mark Ruffalo, too. When he plays her tape to him--*sob*.
It's like this movie shows you the person you could be, if you really tried. Or the life you could lead, if you left all your petty worries behind.
And that Beach Boys song stuck in my head for days.
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Post by kendra on Jun 26, 2006 18:21:32 GMT
I loved You Can Count On Me! I think Laura Linney is an absolute class act. Did you know Kenneth Lonergan himself plays the Catholic priest? I've been gone for so long I know very little about Catalan cinema - it sounds like you know a lot more than me! And I've never watched the Goyas - I'd love to see Isabel accepting hers, but I don't know who Miss Wasabi is. Is there a link anywhere? Hooray for Catalan Jake fans, indeed! Do you speak Catalan? (This is weird, we are conducting two conversations at one - it feels a little schizophrenic...)[/quote] Miss Wasabi is Isabel Coixet alter ego, isn't it funny? Here you are a link about Goyas: www.el-mundo.es/especiales/2006/01/cultura/goya/directores/coixet.htmlYes, I speak Catalan from time to time, although the language I use the most is Castilian/Spanish. Hooray for Jake fans from Catalonia again! "A les noies catalanes ens agrada molt en Jake, perquè ell és molt bufó"
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zoo
GyllenJack Nasty
Posts: 148
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Post by zoo on Jun 27, 2006 14:23:25 GMT
Miss Wasabi is Isabel Coixet alter ego, isn't it funny? I don't understand... Is this Isabel pretending to be someone else? Or someone else pretending to be Isabel? It sounds a bit Antony and the Johnsons to me. "A les noies catalanes ens agrada molt en Jake, perquè ell és molt bufó" FANTASTIC!!!!! I love it. ;D Did you write it? It's pefectly written - perfect accents and use of 'en' instead of 'el'.
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Post by kendra on Jun 27, 2006 17:13:42 GMT
No, haha. It's Isabel Coixet herself, the same way Henry Chinasky was the alter ego of Charles Bukowski or Captain Alatriste the alter ego of writer Arturo Pérez Reverte, simply a projection of their inner "personas" when they write a book or a script.
Yes, I have a medium Catalan level, although as I said you before, I don't usually talk it, because my boyfriend prefers talking Spanish (he is from Zaragoza and can't stand the catalan accent, lol).
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Post by webqueen259 on Jun 28, 2006 4:39:55 GMT
Well, I went to the video store this evening and got "Syriana" because I wanted to see George Clooney's performance (you know the one, the performance that robbed our Jake of the Oscar). I think George is pretty good in the film and it certainly is a supporting role because he's not in the movie all that much, but is it me, or is this movie really confusing and hard to follow. I even put the English subtitles on so I could catch more of the dialogue. I may have to watch this one a second time just to get it. Anyone else see it?
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Post by kendra on Jun 28, 2006 5:13:44 GMT
I watched "Syriana" short time before of "Oscars Awards", and I loved George Clooney's performance -the torture nail removing scene gave me chills, didn't it do to you? Matt Damon is not my cup of tea, but Amanda Peet was lovable in her small role as a mother who loses her child in Marbella! -I was horryfied their son had to die in Spain, careless and that was a sad moment-. The political message was a very too much lefty for my taste, would you believe the powers that be of US go to the extreme of conspirancy to kill an Arabian Saudi prince only for oil interests? I rather think corporations use another kind of business strategical measures.
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Post by webqueen259 on Jun 28, 2006 7:52:18 GMT
kendra, I couldn't even watch the nail pulling scene but I have a difficult time with that type of thing (horror, torture, etc. in movies). Yes, the scene with Amanda Peet and Damon when the child dies is tragic. It almost looked as if no one was there to help them. I did think Clooney was very good in this movie and he did gain all that weight for the role. He said in the features part on the DVD that he gained 30 pounds, grew a heavy beard, and cut his hairline back and no one recognized him. He couldn't get a table in a restaurant anymore. I do like Clooney so if Jake had to lose to someone I'm glad it was to Clooney. At least Jake snagged the BAFTA. Have that winning moment on a video file and Jake is just too cute and totally surprised when he won that award.
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Post by roco on Jul 16, 2006 2:48:13 GMT
As far a summer movies go, I enjoyed "Superman Returns" much more than "Pirates". It had a better plot and a moral to it. Yes nice guys do win!
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zoo
GyllenJack Nasty
Posts: 148
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Post by zoo on Jul 17, 2006 15:24:32 GMT
Roconner, I LOVE Superman Returns. Much more than I thought I would. What was your favourite bit?
I haven't seen Pirates yet.
A few films I watched recently that I really enjoyed:
- A Cock and Bull Story (DVD release): very funny, pretty hard to describe in structure and plot, but very enjoyable. - Ellie Parker (old but just been re-released): funny and touching and very acid in bits. - The Secret Life of Words (also old-ish - last year's): did I already post about this? It's Isabel Coixet's next after My Life Without Me.
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Post by roco on Jul 18, 2006 0:32:03 GMT
Roconner, I LOVE Superman Returns. Much more than I thought I would. What was your favourite bit Hi Zoo, I loved the scene where they turned back in the plane and rescued Superman. I tear up just thinking about it. I also felt the same way about the scene in "spiderman II" where he collapsed after saving the train and the passengers tried to protect him. Cheers
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zoo
GyllenJack Nasty
Posts: 148
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Post by zoo on Jul 18, 2006 9:55:04 GMT
Yes, I loved that bit, too. It's a very 'grown-up' arrangement that's going on there, isn't it? I was wondering how they'd handle the fiancée thing and expecting him to be a bit of a dick so that she would get rid of him without anyone feeling guilty, and I was pleasantly surprised with that rescue scene. I wonder what'll happen in future movies. Did you guess? I kind of half did, half-hoped. (Imagine what I mean, I don't want to spoil it for anyone else). Cheers to you too, sweetheart.
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Post by roco on Jul 23, 2006 22:45:55 GMT
If your ever have the opportunity, watch "Just Like Heaven". It stars Reese Witherspoon and Mark Rufallo. It's quite an endearing comedy.
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Post by roco on Jul 24, 2006 0:33:14 GMT
Rented "Failure to Launch" recently. It was good for a giggle, but I wouldn't run out and buy it.
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