The Film is More than All Right

One of the gems of last year's Sundance Film Festival, The Kids are All Right is a family comedy drama that is packed with critically-acclaimed performances from its cast, most notably Annette Bening, Julian Moore and Mark Ruffalo, making the film charming and entertaining. Had it not been for Natalie Portman's breakthrough performance in Black Swan, the Oscar trophy should be shared by the two female leads playing a married lesbian couple. Bening was precise and natural in portraying a controlling, perfectionist surgeon that could be weak at times, while Moore was the hippy homestay mom that let herself be controlled by Nic, though she sometimes defends her authority with their kids. The Academy was generous to nominate Ruffalo in the Best Supporting Actor award for his charming performance in this film.

This film is an ordinary story of couples trying to overcome relationship problems, parents trying to raise teenagers, and teenagers trying to find their sperm-donor dad. What's not ordinary is that the parents here are both moms, and the teenagers conspired to meet Paul (Ruffalo) without the knowledge of their moms. It turns out that dad, who rides motorcycles and advocate of organic foods, was cool, at least that's the first impression. The moms were left with no choice but to meet him. Besides the kids, Jules (Moore) also took a liking on him, especially that he hired her as landscape design to encourage her newfound career. They had an affair that put her marriage with Nic (Bening) hit rock bottom. Of course, the affair was not the only problem in their relationship--Nic, a surgeon, does not seem to support home-based Jules' new passion. Enter Paul, who made Jules feel that she is indeed talented in the art of landscaping. Nic and the kids found out about their affair, and soon Paul was out of their lives again.

The Kids are All Right did not dwell too much on the issue of same-sex marriage but instead focused on the issues of a conventional family. There was no melodrama about having lesbians as parents, making it seem like a naturally accepted set-up. In the Philippine context, however, conservatives and the religious would probably be not comfortable watching it. But the film is so well-made that, although in principle they might not agree with the set-up, they would at least sympathize with the characters. In a sense, it seems like it's a film about the future--at least for those states or countries like the Philippines that do not permit same-sex marriage--when having two moms or dads standing is universally accepted.

Other issues were also not addressed directly like Laser's (Josh Hutcherson) drug use or Joni's (Mia Wasikowska) sexual curiosity. What the moms addressed though was their suspicion if Laser was a homosexual because he was caught to be watching gay porn with his male best friend inside her parents' room. The DVD, by the way, was her parents'.

Favorite Film Moments:

1. Nic bursting into a  song during dinner, then Paul joins her in singing a common favorite song. Things seem to be going all right between Nic and Paul after a bad start. But after this scene, Nic finds Jules' hair in Paul's drainage and bed. Bad blood returns. 

2. Jules explaining to Laser why she and Nic watch gay porn. 

3. Joni having her last dinner with her family before moves out of the house to go to college. Paul arrives unexpectedly, hoping to say goodbye to her sperm offspring, but Joni tells him to never call her again. 

4. Joni  running toward her family to say goodbye when she moved in in her college dorm the day after Jules confessed about her affair with Paul. Before this scene, they all went to see her door room, but she asked them to leave her alone for a minute. She scanned the room and began to arrange her bed. She then realized that it would be her last time to see her family and hurried down. At first, she could not find them and thought that they left without saying goodbye. She was relieved to see their car approach her, and before heading back home they finally said their goodbyes. 

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The Kids are All Right won Golden Globe Best Motion Picture for Comedy or Musical, Best Actress in Comedy or Musical, and Berlin Film Festival Teddy Awards. It bagged four major nominations in this year's Oscars. 

Oh Natalie!

Now I understand why many film critics and viewers favor Natalie to get the much-coveted Oscar statuette. Not only because of the preparation she had for the film (it was reported that she was trained for six months to dance like a true ballerina), but also because of her engaging performance in it. But boy, she was disturbingly thin in the film!

In Black Swan, Natalie plays the role of Nina, a ballet dancer who wants to be perfect. When she was chosen to be the new swan queen by her gorgeous artistic director Thomas Leroy (Vincent Cassel) over her competition Lily (Mila Kunis), it was a dream come true for her. But she needed to play both the role of the White Swan and the Black Swan. Thomas said Nina was perfect for the White Swan, with her grace and fragility, but she fails to impress him as the Black Swan that requires boldness and sensuality; both of which matched Lily's personality. The two became friends, and soon Nina developed her dark personality that translated to her perfect performance as both White Swan and Black Swan.

Thomas (Vincent Cassel) challenging Nina (Natalie Portman) to let loose for her role as the Black Swan.
Photo from jabcatmovies.com/2010/09/black-swan/

There were just so many memorable scenes in the film: Nina touching herself as per order of Thomas ("I have an assignment for you--go touch yourself") not knowing that her mother (who was a former ballerina) was sitting beside her bed; Nina being seduced by Thomas ("That was me seducing you," said Thomas, "when it should have been the other way around"); make-out session between Lily and Nina that never happened; and the final scene when Nina as the White Swan killed herself because of loneliness, but Nina was happy about her performance ("it was perfect") despite the hole in her stomach that threatened to end her life (it was her own doing).

Nina doing her homework. Photo from http://starcasm.net/archives/61393

Lily (Mila Kunis) and Nina making out.
Photo from http://starcasm.net/archives/61393 

In a way, this psychological thriller provided ordinary audience access to the elitist ballet world. Aronofsky put the audience at the edge of their seats with the suspense and twist of the film. The seemingly invisible transitions between shots in the first part of the film was good editing. The music and sound and silences added drama and suspense where both are needed. But above all it is a film that would give Natalie an Oscar win (she already won the Golden Globe Best Actress).    

11 days of 2011

Time flies when you're having fun, so they say. But what if you're not? Well, it crawls perhaps.

The year did not start right for me. First, I was sick hours before 2011 kicked in. A few days after new year, a colleague was diagnosed with a nasty disease. Eleven days after the fireworks and things are still as gloomy as the weather these past few days.

But I wouldn't want to depress you, dear readers (if you do exist). Some good things happened during the first 11 days of 2011. For one, my tita and cousins arrived from US and Dubai, respectively, for a vacation. This means our holiday family gatherings are extended for weeks. Which means more good food! I suppose I need to double up on my jogging.

Another is that our pelikultura film festival on Feb. is a definite go despite lack of local governments' support (so disappointing) because of the twenty-plus entries sent to us by filmmakers in Calabarzon. We at pelikuLAB are happy to know that so many filmmakers showed interest in the project. Too bad their governors don't want to spend money on it.

Also, during these past few days, I already started planning for the adventures I would like to have this year. I think my lakwatcha wishlist will come true this year. Some friends have already expressed interest on the backpacking trip in Indochina. And Batanes? Well, I'd say I will be in Batanes pretty, pretty soon.

Saan ako magla-lakwatcha ngayong 2011?

Gusto ko sa:

1. Marinduque (para sa Moriones festival)
2. Lucban, Quezon (ulit. para sa Pahiyas Festival. Dapat magaling na ako mag-picture)
3. Cagayan de Oro (dahil na-udlot na itong lakad na ito dati. para sa tubig)
4. Davao (ulit. dahil libre)
5. Negros (volunteer work. Libre. Sana matuloy.)
6. Pagudpud (summer lakwatcha with cousins)
7. Mt. Pinatubo (para magpa-picture sa crater)
8. Anawangin (para mag-camping)

Wishlist:
1. Batanes (dahil Batanes siya)
2. Indochina (backpacking. graduation gift sa sarili. kung ga-graduate)

because it's new year

Happy 2011 dear readers! Cheers!

This time of the year has come again when we need to reflect on the year that passed and list down things we'd like to accomplish this year. It is only lately that I noticed that the first decade of the 21st century has also passed by quietly, swiftly.

Highlights of my 00's decade:

1. I graduated from high school and college.
2. I made a documentary film and was part of a feature film.
3. I'm a stock holder in a corporation.
4. I traveled here and abroad.
5. I became an aunt.
6. I gained (a few) pounds.
7. I developed an allergy to shrimp, dust, and chicken wings.
8. I saw my father in person after many years.
9. My heart was broken. Twice.
10. I became an adult and realized that not every one is as nice as me.

My 2010 is a year full of goodbye's but not so much of hello's. My friends resigned from teaching; more friends and relatives went abroad for work; no more new classmates in Master's because I'm done with my coursework. I felt I lost my energy and will this year. Maybe it's because I have too much time in my hand because of my study leave.

Some of my free time and energy was spent preparing the first Calabarzon Film Festival in UPLB on Feb. Some on Lakwatcha Magazine (which is already out in the market). Some on my lakwatcha. The rest, on my thesis, if there's anything left.

Lady Luck was good to me this year. I almost won the jackpot in a lottery! I was one number shy from being a millionaire. Guess Lady Luck knew I do not know yet how to handle millions, so she only let me win  second prize.

Because I felt I was rich, I invested my money. I also started saving. I still have loans to pay though.

For next year, I want to regain my energy and accomplish more things. I want to be more productive and active. Here are some of the things I'd like to do next year:

1. Defend my thesis and get my Master's degree in Film.
2. Run in 10km marathon event.
3. Write more.
4. Save more.
5. Read more.
6. Get a tattoo.
7. Make more money and invest so I can lakwatcha more.
8. Get serious in learning how to take photos.
9. Re-learn hard work.
10. Ride in a hot air balloon.
11. Have an active lifestyle.
12. Get back to teaching and volunteer work.
13. Win the jackpot in lottery.

Photo from tacomadowntown.blogspot.com