Author: thisduck

no country for old men

No Country For Old Men (2008)

I liked this movie, I liked the performances. Brolin and Bardem were great. It wasn’t the best thing since toasted subs, but it was good.

The scene at the gas station store was just plain creepy/freaky, much like Chigurh himself. I don’t need all my movies to have some form of redemption, I’m okay with a movie telling a story from point A to point B.

I didn’t mind the slowness or the lack of music (see Gerry). And what’s with all this talk about the ending? The ending was fine.

  • The coin don’t have no say. It’s just you.

  • Point bein’, even in the contest between man and steer the issue is not certain.

8/10

hunger

Hunger (2008)

The first thing in the film that stands out is the use of sound. There is no music, none that I noticed. Every sound bit seemed to have been heightened. Shoe steps, doors closing, and everything else. It reminded me of Gerry.

I didn’t know much about the IRA or Bobby Sands before watching this film, and I can’t say I know much now. I’ll have to read up a bit on that.

Visceral, that is how I could described most of the scenes in the movie. That is how I’d describe most of the movie. There is very little dialogue and the pace is very slow (again, reminding me of Gerry), but the imagery is very powerful in most instances.

The conversation scene between Sands and the priest was very well placed, clocking in at about 18 minutes in a single take. It did take me a while to adjust to the accent and certain words I missed out completely.

I don’t know much about the story, so I can’t comment on that. The film has its flaws but is very well made.

9/10

whale rider

From 2003:

Name: Whale Rider
Directed By: Niki Caro
Written By: Witi Ihimaera (novel), Niki Caro (screenplay)
Type: Drama
Year: 2002
Starring: Keisha Castle-Hughes, Rawiri Paratene, Vicky Haughton

Set in New Zealand, Whale Rider is about Paikea Apirana (Castle-Hughes) who has to overcome certain aspects of the Maori culture. She also strives to gain the respect and recognition of her grandfather Koro (Rawiri Paratene).

Yaser dragged me along to watch this movie, and I’m glad I went. The overall theme might be cliche but the movie itself was anything but; a very real movie with great performances. Keisha Castle-Hughes’ performance has to be one of the best child performances ever; she does a great job to capture the complexities of Paikea’s character. Definitely worthy of an Oscar. I wonder how she will adapt to the characters in her future movies.

Don’t miss this movie. If you are the emotional type then bring along your handkerchief or tissue papers because you’ll shed a couple of tears. Yaser alone cried enough to fill up a medium Sprite glass (please don’t try and confirm this with Yaser). I didn’t shed a tear however, but an emotional movie nonetheless and a very emotional performance by the cast.

9.5/10

slip

Did my fingers slip during that shuffle? Is their card where I want it?

People are still chattering all around us and the music is still playing loud. I had moved these sounds into my periphery, but now I’ve moved them beyond that. There is nothing but uncertainty in this moment, this moment is as silent as stone.

So I’m supposed to show them a card that isn’t their chosen card? But what if I turn it over and it is their chosen card?

“No! That’s not the card!!!”

So far so good. Now I have to make their card appear. Will it appear?

“Well, if this isn’t your card, then what’s the one on the table?”, I point to the card on that table. Everyone turns their heads to look at it. It has been sitting there a while. I keep pointing to the card. Indicating that someone should turn it over.

Someone does.

Well? Is this it? Is this your card? Please be the card. Please be the card.

A few seconds of silence. I could hold out my hand and feel the silence coming down. I can’t do anything to change it. It’s falling on my hand, but it is not in my hands.

Then, suddenly, an eruption of wonder.

Phew.

“Wow! How is that possible? That was amazing!”

Yes it was. It was as much a miracle for me as it was for you.

Subhanallah.

Was this a trick? Could have fooled me.

2008: year of the blog

Actually, it was year of the rat.

But as far as I’m concerned, all I did this year was blog. Which is somewhat kind of sad. I blogged more this year than I did from 2003 to 2007 inclusive. That’s insane.

And if in 2007 you’d tell me that I would do that. I would tell you that you’re crazy. And the content I’ve posted, if you told me that’s the content I’d post, I’d tell you you were crazy-insane.

But blogging isn’t an accomplishment. Mind you, I am fairly pleased with some of the content on the blog. It ain’t all good, or even close, but hell I put it up. But that isn’t an accomplishment of any kind. Like learning how to play the guitar, that would be an accomplishment. And I’ve been wanting to learn how to do that for years. I even blogged about it in this cringe-worthy post.

2008 has been a good year though, along with all the ups and downs it comes with, it’s been a good year. It’s interesting because I can look back over the years and sort of follow myself and see how each year has either made a difference or affirmed something in me/about me. But life really turned interested that way since I turned 21, before that it’s all a blur. Hah.

Oh yeah, I switched jobs and started part-time school and host of other things. But none of that really stands out, I don’t even remember that stuff. All there is, is the blog. =/. Clearly I need to actually do something.

Would I have done anything differently this year? Yes, I would have. I would have bought a large flat big screen television. Not that I’d watch it or anything, I’m content downloading television and watching it on the macbook, I just want something to hang on the wall.

kyun?

hum kaun hai?
tum kaun ho?
mein kaun hoon?

nahin humare jaise hazaroon?
kya tum aik hi ho?
kya mein aik hi hoon?

phir kya farkh?
tum mein aur uss mein?
mujh mein aur uss mein?

phir kyun yeh sab?
tum kyun ho?
mein kyun hoon?

what will I do?

What, oh what, will I do?

I took the next week off from work. I have an exam on Thursday and a (small) paper due Monday. In my mind I’ve divided the time up, in terms of where I will spend it. I will spend Friday night (tonight) working on the paper and finish it off on Saturday. Then, starting Sunday, I will pull out the humongous Financial Accounting textbook and it’s accompanying Case Book, go through each chapter and draw notes on the important points. From those notes I will make the cheat sheet I’m allowed to take into the 3 hour exam. I will have Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday to study. That’s four days.

So far I’ve spent today reading a small graphic novel I picked up from the book sale at work. I picked up a whole bunch of other books too. I don’t understand. I still have piles of books I have not read, that I ought to read. I have books I’ve borrowed from friends, those books I ought to read. But I read this book first, the new one that I just bought. And I read it when the plan in my mind was to start on that paper. Did I make mention of how I don’t understand?

In reality I know I will do the paper on Saturday, or maybe even on Sunday. It’s due Monday after all. This plan in my mind will mould itself to the shape of wasted time. But really, if you enjoy the time you waste, is it really wasted? Maybe it’s just misplaced somewhat.

I’m here writing this post, about how I’ve planned to study, but will probably spend that time not studying. My point exactly.

Maybe I will stare a little at the static internet, if I stare long enough the words and images may change. Maybe I will watch a TV show, or two, or three. Perhaps I will watch an entire movie, or two. I just might read the new books I now find around me.

Maybe, just perhaps maybe, I will study.

What will I do?
What will I do?
What will I do?