The New Leading Man

Jeremy Renner. One word - sharp.

He was sharp in "The Hurt Locker". He was sharper in "Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol". And he is certainly looking sharp in the upcoming "The Avengers" and "The Bourne Legacy".

There's just something unique about Renner, each time he walks across the screen. His presence oozes charisma. Not the Brad Pitt or Keanu Reaves kind of charisma, more of a George Clooney like charisma.

He is actually not quite new. He has been seen on screen since 1995, be it on the big screen or the small screen. But they were all mostly run of the mill stories and nothing that warrants people's attention. He was often a bit player and he was largely being offered then a minor role.

It was not until the movie "The Hurt Locker" that made people stood up and took notice of this unheralded talent. In the hands of Kathryn Bigelow, "The Hurt Locker" never became just another war movie. It became a selfless exploration of human emotions underneath the war and preceding violence. And under the expert tutelage of Bigelow, Renner displayed a range of emotions and he shone brightly like an A-list movie star. In a movie where cameo appearances of superstars like Guy Pierce and Ralph Fiennes were lauded and much appreciated, Renner astoundingly held his own. The movie eventually won the coveted Oscar for Best Picture in 2009, beating the likes of Avatar, Up In The Air and Inglorious Basterds. Renner himself landed an Oscar nomination for his portrayal of Sergeant William James. His excellent interpretation of a bomb squad specialist under intense pressure were applauded by many in Hollywood and thanks to his rugged demeanor, he was offered several leading roles thereafter.

He landed another Best Supporting Actor nomination for Ben Affleck's directorial work, "The Town", and that only cemented his status not just as a respectable thespian but also as the new leading man in Tinseltown.

When he was offered the role as Agent William Brandt in "Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol", he was touted to be the probable replacement for Tom Cruise, should there be any future plans for the successful franchise. Indeed, he gave Cruise a run for his money, as he looked sharper than Cruise in many instances. He even got to carry out a typical "Mission: Impossible" stunt in the movie, hinting to audiences a tinge of possibility that he might be the "New Ethan Hunt".

He would soon be seen as Hawkeye in the hugely anticipated "The Avengers". Let's see how he fares in the midst of loads of talents (and egos) like Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo and Scarlett Johanssen.

He has also taken over the "Bourne" mantle from Matt Damon in the upcoming "The Bourne Legacy". The trailer was every bit as saucy and spicy as the build-up of the story.

Here's an actor whose worth has been duly recognized and approved by his peers, and a soon-to-be action star whose talent could only shine brighter as time goes by. We'll just have to wait and see...

Favourite Director - The Best of Ron Howard

I knew Ron Howard as Richie Cunningham and till this very day, I will forever associate him with that evergreen sitcom "Happy Days".

After being a regular in the sitcom for a couple of years, Howard decided to leave the show and focused on movie making. His first attempt at filmmaking resulted in an action comedy crime caper "Grand Theft Auto". The movie was a commercial success and that jump-started his directorial career.

Thereafter he continued to churn out blockbuster movies one after another. His collaboration with another producer, Brian Grazer forged a great partnership that exploded into a number of wonderful, eventful movies over the years.

Howard was never a director of a specific genre, hence his movies have covered different types or genres from comedies to dramas to thrillers and even westerns.

Here are my personal Top 10 favourite movies directed by the brilliant Ron Howard: -


1. Apollo 13 (1995)
2. A Beautiful Mind (2001)
3. Night Shift (1982)
4. Parenthood (1989)
5. Willow (1988)
6. Splash (1984)
7. The Da Vinci Code (2006)
8. Ransom (1996)
9. Backdraft (1991)
10. The Paper (1994)

Back In The Movie Business

When was the last time I wrote something on this blog? Geez, god knows... Eons ago perhaps...

But the long hiatus I took away from writing was mostly attributed to occupational hindrances rather than intentional self-deprecation.

During the long absence, I took time to reflect on my personal cornucopias, the many ups and downs, the myriads of fascinating turbulence and thresholds I came across during my short, sheltered life. Worthy of every penny... It refreshes my personal predilections in life.

So, here I am... writing again on this crazy, no audience Blog. A very self-absorbing piece of literary armamentarium that was launched solely for the purpose of leaving behind a simple legacy...

Thus, allow me to submerge and sink in beneath the splendors and the squalors of cinematic expressions and interpretations...

2009 In Restrospect - Surprise Package Of The Year

I first came to know about this movie when I saw its trailer prior to watching some other movie. My first impression, I thought the film was going to be cool, especially when it is about rock 'n' roll and music and stuff. And when I watched the DVD, it didn't disappoint me.

"The Boat That Rocked" is an independent British-American ensemble comedy starring Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Rhys Ifans, Bill Nighy and Nick Frost just to name a few. It was released in the UK on 1 April 2009. Since the film was a commercial and critical failure in the UK, it was re-edited and retitled as "Pirate Radio" for a release in the US and Canada on 13 November 2009. Unfortunately, that did not change its luck - the film was still commercially unsuccessful in North America.

Nevertheless, the movie was a solid tribute about a fictitious pirate radio station broadcasting from a ship to the UK in the year 1966. Superbly written and directed by Richard Curtis (whose previous writing and directing credits included "Four Weddings And A Funeral", "Notting Hill", "Bean", Bridget Jones' Diary" and "Love Actually"), the movie was a roller-coaster ride filled with many amusing moments and carefully selected tunes that clearly represent the characters' feelings and emotions in accordance with the time i.e. the sixties.

The actors playing each character were almost spot-on especially the 4 Leading Stars. Hoffman played The Count, an American Radio Deejay brought into the fray to spice up the station. His reputation as the Radio's leading broadcaster got a little tougher with a strong competition from a charming womanizer, Gavin Cavanagh, played ever so suavely by Rhys Ifans. Nick Frost played Dr. Dave while Nighy played the Radio Boss, Quentin - the man who calms things down even when they are really going down, literally.

With plenty of swaying tunes from the sixties (i.e. the likes of The Kinks, The Turtles, Procol Harum, Cat Stevens, The Hollies, The Who, David Bowie, Jimi Hendrix and Cream) and a beautifully written story to support it, the movie filled up the room with plenty of emotions - high and low.

2009 In Restrospect - Sleeper Hit Of The Year

Each year, there would be at least one or two movies that would defy the odds and box office predictions, and would rake up a storm in the collections that no one could figure how and why it happened. In 2008, "Twilight" began to make its mark and did their producers more than justice when they broke all silence and appeared as the sleeper hit of the year with a box office collection of more than USD350 million worldwide. In 2007, the cleverly written "Juno" did the same albeit with a slightly lower box office takings.

Last year, an action thriller film with very little well known stars took the liberty of raking in more than USD 145 million in box office collections. Starring Liam Neeson, Famke Janssen, and Maggie Grace, the movie "Taken" is based on a script by Luc Besson and Robert Mark Kamen and was directed by Pierre Morel.

Neeson plays a no-nonsense, former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) paramilitary operative who sets about tracking down his teenage daughter after she is kidnapped by slave traders while she was traveling in France.

The movie initially started at a slow pace. Only when Neeson found out about his daughter's misfortunes that the movie began to pick up the pace. And from one sequence to another, the movie's gripping and realistic actions kept the adrenaline flowing non-stop, thanks to a good direction and strong editing.

If anything, I would remember this movie for one particular scene when Neeson was talking to the phone with one of the kidnappers, and he said (with much grit and conviction) "I don't know who you are. I don't know what you want. If you are looking for a ransom, I can tell you I don't have the money. But what I do have is a very particular set of skills; skills I have acquired over a very long career. Skills that make me a nightmare for people like you. If you let my daughter go now, that'll be the end of it. I will not look for you, I will not pursue you. But if you don't, I will look for you, I will find you, and I will kill you."

That in itself is worth sitting through the rest of the movie even if your bladder is bloatedly full.

2009 In Restrospect - Best Movie Based On A TV Series

I consider myself a Half-Trekkie. I never really appreciated the earlier TV Series (with Shattner and Nimoy). And although I am fine with the earlier movies (i.e. Star Trek 1 - VI), I'd still prefer Star Trek Generations. Be it due to Jean Luc Picard, Ryker, Data, LaForge or Deanna Troy (highly likely due to Marina Sirtis), I'd still can relate much to the latter series.

And so, I didn't really have much high hopes on this one. I heard that it's going to be a prequel. But, right from the opening sequence, I was mesmerized by the action sequence, the drama that unfolds subsequently and the solid portrayals by the new bunch of actors.

Directed by Jeffrey Jacob Abrams, or better known as J.J. Abrams, the creator or co-creator of the television series "Felicity", "Alias", "Lost", and "Fringe", the movie appeared to be sensibly produced with careful thoughts on character development. Apart from paying homage to the original TV Series, it also has more than just mind blowing and powerful action sequeces. Staying true to the source material, fans of the original TV Series would certainly appreciate this version. And for the newbies, you don't need to be a Trekkie to enjoy this movie. The screenwriters have done quite a wonderful job by developing a background and history to each of the main character, allowing the viewers to get to know them better.

Relatively young actors were lined up to play the ever-so-well-known characters - Chris Pine as James T. Kirk, Zachary Quinto as Spock, Karl Urban as Dr. McCoy, Zoe Saldana as Uhura, Simon Pegg as Scotty, John Cho as Sulu and Anton Yelchin as Chekov. There is also a cameo by Leonard Nimoy as the 'older' Spock and a most surprising turn by Eric Bana as the Romulan Nero.

Both Pine and Quinto did a terrific job playing the famous duo. Pine came across as a rebellious and arrogant chap quite similar to the traits of the original James T. Kirk that we've grown quite accustomed to, and Quinto would have made Nimoy so proud with his turn as the brilliant Vulcan. However, I personally felt that Winona Ryder's presence in the movie was slightly off-key and a miscast. She looked a bit young to play a mother. A slightly elderly actress would have done much justice to the character of Amanda Grayson.

Nevertheless, this is definitely a good treat for action movie fans and a remarkable effort to re-produce a franchise to move along with changing times.

2009 In Retrospect - Best Comedy Of The Year

"This is not a love story...", we were forewarned early in the movie. By gosh! How joyful was the ride all throughout the movie, as it continued to defy expectations over expectations.

Now, here's a movie that was never too assuming nor self-conceited. This is a movie that relies largely on a well told tale of a 'relationship' between two human beings longing for companionship, outlayed and narrated in a non-linear style, beyond the norms of a normal mainstream Hollywood quickies.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays Tom Hansen, a hopeless romantic, who could have been an Architect but opted to become a Copywriter instead because he just figured, "why make something disposable like a building when you can make something that last forever, like a greeting card".

One fine day, Tom met "the girl of his dreams" when he meets Summer (played by the beautiful Zooey Deschanel). Good thing for Tom, he fell head over heals with Summer. But unfortunately for him, Summer's feelings for him was not reciprocal. Therein lies the twists, turns and emotional upheavals that made the movie uniquely different from the rest of the other comedies.

Director, Marc Webb, did a wonderful job by truly capturing the feeling of an innocent and naïve romance, and blending them with some depressing and heart-wrenching moments, with underlying humoristic tones. Bottomline, he's telling us not to take love so seriously, especially wehen we are young, until we decide to really, really be with someone for the rest of our lives. Anything can happen along the way.

The movie's strengths are expounded through the emotional scenes, with very little dialogues between the two main characters, played so endearingly well by Gordon-Levitt and Deschanel. Thanks to their chemistry, there were some truly, truly wonderful and subtle moments of love and tenderness that were so real and never came across as corny and untactful.

It's been a while since I last came across a Romantic Comedy of this nature.

2009 In Retrospect - Best Animated Movie Of The Year

Pixar has so far been successful in their animated ventures ever since John Lasseter started a daring trend with "Toy Story" in 1995. Ever since then, and 10 movies later, they have continued to enlighten us with myriads of movies with strong messages about life for both kids and adults, and they have progressed even further in terms of technical wizardries with beautifully crafted animation techniques and craftsmanship.

There were stories about bugs (i.e. 1998's "A Bug's Life") and monsters (i.e. 2001's "Monsters, Inc"); they made us laugh through an honest journey of a Dory Fish (i.e. 2003's "Finding Nemo"); and they even made us fall with our hats off in respect of a Cooking Mouse (i.e. 2007's "Ratatoille"). Over the years, they have made us laugh, and they have made us cry.

But nothing beats their latest spectacle of an animated adventure called "Up" - a tale of an elderly widower named Carl Fredricksen (effectively voiced by Edward Asner) and a young overeager "wilderness explorer" named Russell (voiced by Jordan Nagai) who flew to South America in a floating house suspended from helium balloons, in search of a place called Paradise Falls. Along the way, they met an elderly explorer, Charles Muntz (voiced by the veteran, Christopehr Plummer) and a host of other quirky charcaters. Rest assured, plenty of typical Pixar action movements and sequences trnaspired along the way with a rather interesting ending.

What's different about the movie is the Opening Sequence when Carl met Ellie in her Clubhouse, discovering that they both had a similar common interest i.e. they both adore the famed explorer Charles F. Muntz. And when Ellie dreams of wanting to go to Paradise Falls, what's usually done at the very end of a story happened right at the beginning of this movie. A series of montage-like character development were shown from the point Carl and Ellie fell in love, got married, bought a home, grew older together, saved some money for their planned trip to Paradise Falls, to the point of Ellie becoming sick and soon later indulged herself in a long deep sleep.

Carl's undying love for Ellie only meant that with or without Ellie, he must fulfill Ellie's promises and dreams of reaching Paradise Falls, by hook or by crook.

To me, the opening sequences were the best part of the movie. It set the tone and the mood of the movie for me. And another great thing that came out of the movie was the beautiful soundtrack produced by Michael Giacchino. It deservingly won an Oscar for Best Original Soundtrack.

This one clearly ranks as one of the Top 10 Best Animated Movies of all time.

2009 In Retrospect - The Biggest Movie Of The Year

It is only fair that if I were to carry out a review of all the films I've watched in 2009, I would start with the biggest of the lot. And last year, there was no other movies bigger in scope and greater in anticipation other than James Cameron's "Avatar".

What was so special about this movie is that it brought us back to the spirit and cinematic grandeur of great movies like Titanic and Lord Of The Rings Trilogy - typically brilliant in terms of technical and cinematic achievements yet intertwined with simple storytelling that managed to capture the hearts and minds of various stratas of viewers.

Once again, James Cameron, after a long hiatus of almost 11 years since producing and directing "Titanic", has come up with a movie worthy of its epic billing and almost at par if not better than its predecessor.

Much has been said about the movie, and I'm pretty sure there are tonnes of reviews on the movie. So, let me just list down the 10 Things I Like About The Movie: -

1. I got to see Sigourney Weaver again in a James Cameron movie (the last was Aliens).

2. The special effects were out of this world. Brilliantly done.

3. And PANDORA really, really came to life. Cameron always have this endearing vision of a world truly beyond our normal thoughts.

4. Sam Worthington was an unknown before this. But he's definitely a superstar now. Although his Jake Sully will not be remembered as much as Leonardo Di Caprio's Jack Dawson, it was a good effort from this newcomer.

5. Zoe Saldana played Neytiri, a Na'vi in the movie. She is supposed to be a Computer-Enhanced creature. But without her hearty emotions and vigorous movements, Neytiri would have been soulless.

6. Stephen Lang (who played the evil Colonel Miles Quaritch) reminded me of one of the characters from Small Soldiers (i.e. the one played / voiced by Tommy Lee Jones).

7. The movie was so engrossing that it didn't feel like a 160-minute movie (i.e. 2 1/2 hours long).

8. Just like "Titanic" earlier, Cameron got James Horner to produce the Soundtrack for "Avatar". Great job. The music enhanced the movie to greater heights.

9. Gorgeous cinematography by Mauro Fiore.

10. Of all the movies nominated for the Best Picture (Oscar), and with all dfue respect to "The Hurt Locker", this will be the one remembered most by many.

Enough said.

Personal Selection - Favourite Malay Comedies / Musical (Films / Coloured)

1. Mekanik (Othman Hafsham) – Azmil Mustapha, Julie Faridah, Yusoff Haslam, Susan Lankaster & Ahmad Termimi Siregar.

- During the 80's, the local cinemas were filled with many typically slapstick comedies starring AR Badul, Hamid Gurkha, Yahya Sulong, R. Jaafar and the likes. The introduction of "Mekanik" came like a breath of fresh air - fast-paced, extremely intelligent, full of wits, and a very spot-on social satire. Othman Hafsham was well-known for his debut comedy "Adik Manja" a few years earlier. With "Mekanik", he made a star out of Azmil Mustapha and Susan Lancaster. The beautifully sketched plots were so smartly entertwined with comedic bits, and it was endearingly supported by a host of great actors and cameo appearances i.e. Yusoff Haslam (as the Mafia Head, complete with an Italian slang), Ahmad Termimi Siregar, Yasmin Yusoff, Omar Abdullah, and a special appearance by the great Mokhtar Dahari. The movie was also remembered for the many 'double entendres' that kept on running all throughout e.g. the scene where Azmil and Julie Faridah singing and dancing (in the rain) to the tune of "Mujhe Kuch Kehna Hai" ended with a remark "... saya dah basah"... which could have easily been interpreted 'in a different manner'. Hafsham continued to produce comedies hereafter, but none came close to the success he had with "Mekanik" - a gem of a comedy.

2. Ali Setan (Jins Shamsuddin) – Azmil Mustapha, Ogy Ahmad Daud, Ebby Saiful, Shah Rezza & Izi Yahya.
3. Adik Manja (Othman Hafsham) – Dharma Harun Al-Rashid, Noorkumalasari, Shasha, Adibah Amin & Noraini Hashim.
4. Buli (Afdlin Shauki) – Afdlin Shauki, Nasya Aziz, Hans Isaac, Sharifah Shahira & Patrick Teoh.
5. XX Ray (Aziz M. Osman) – Aziz M. Osman, Faizal Hussein, Vianney Anastasia Lee, Sharmaine Farouk & Edika Yusoff.
6. Kolej 56 (Ahmad Fauzee) – Ahmad Fauzee, Salwa Abdul Rahman, Ariff S. Shamsuddin, Shah Rezza & Zee Muzakkee.
7. Marah-marah Sayang (Johan Ibrahim) – Isma Aliff, Ebby Saiful, Shah Rezza, Suhaina Yahya, Norlida Ahmad & Liza Abdullah.
8. Cinta & Lagu (Jamil Sulong) – Hail Amir, Noor Azizah, Yusoff Haslam, Nozie Nani & Jamil Sulong.
9. Baik Punya Cilok (Afdlin Shauki) – Afdlin Shauki, AC Mizal, Hans Isaac, Awie & Harun Salim Bachik.
10. Puteri Impian (Aziz M. Osman) – Amy Mastura, Cico, Nur Aliyah Lee, Hairie Othman & Sofea Ibrahim.

Personal Selection - Favourite Black & White Malay Comedies (Films)

1. Pendekar Bujang Lapok (P. Ramlee) – P. Ramlee, Aziz Satar, S. Shamsuddin. Roseyatimah & Wak Mustarjo.

- During the era of Black & White, as far as I could remember, only P. Ramlee produced great comedies. And his comedies lasted for decades... No other directors during these era came close to personifying what P. Ramlee had ventured within the lines of comedy. Among his films, the "Bujang Lapok Series" may well be the best remembered. Although all 4 of the "Bujang Lapok" movies are listed here, the best of all would be "Pendekar Bujang Lapok". A few reasons why: -

a. Great songs - "Malam Bulan Di Pagar Bintang" (P. Ramlee & Saloma), "Pok Pok Bujang Lapok" (P. Ramlee, Aziz Sattar & S. Shamsuddin), "Maafkan Kami" (P. Ramlee, Aziz Sattar & S. Shamsuddin).
b. Great one-liners - The most popular is "Cobaan", "Hai, mambang tanah, mambang air, mambang api, mambang angin...", "Ernie, angkat kain jemuran, hujan dah turun...", "Berapa besar lubang hidung, dah? Macam serombong kapal"... and many more.
c. The 'Belajar Mengaji' scene, and the trio's own definition of Jawi Letters. This scene never failed to create huge laughters.
d. The 'Waking Up In The Middle of The Night to Creep Into The Next Room' scene, replete with various croaking sounds of sleep. Another hilarious scene.
e. A memorable baddy i.e. Allahyarham Ahmad Nesfu. Always a great actor with a great range of theatrics. Played the over-protective father in "Antara Dua Darjat" with great elan, and the supportive father-in-law in "Madu Tiga". Always comfortable in both Drama and Comedy.
f. And of course, not forgetting, one of the most beautiful leading ladies of the Golden Era, Roseyatimah. She may have a rather limited range of acting, but she was indeed a sight for sore eyes.

2. Bujang Lapok (P. Ramlee) – P. Ramlee, Aziz Satar, S. Shamsuddin, Normadiah, Zaiton, Dayang Sofea & Siti Tanjung Perak.
3. Tiga Abdul (P. Ramlee) – P. Ramlee, S. Kadarisman, Haji Mahadi, Sarimah, Mariani, Dayang Sofea & Ahmad Nesfu.
4. Labu & Labi (P. Ramlee) – P. Ramlee, M. Zain, Mariani, Rahimah Alias & Udo Omar.
5. Ali Baba Bujang Lapok (P. Ramlee) – P. Ramlee, Aziz Satar, S. Shamsuddin, Sarimah, Normadiah & Ibrahim Pendek.
6. Seniman Bujang Lapok (P. Ramlee) – P. Ramlee, Aziz Satar, S. Shamsuddin, Saloma & Ahmad Nesfu.
7. Madu Tiga (P. Ramlee) – P. Ramlee, Sarimah, Jah Mahadi, Zaharah Agus, M. Rafie & Ahmad Nesfu.
8. Nujum Pak Belalang (P. Ramlee) – P. Ramlee, Hashimah Yon, Ahmad Nesfu, Shariff Dol & Bat Latiff.
9. Musang Berjanggut (P. Ramlee) – P. Ramlee, Saadiah, Ahmad Nesfu, Malek Sutan Muda, Udo Omar & Wak Mustarjo.
10. Ahmad Albab (P. Ramlee) – P. Ramlee, A.R. Tompel, Saloma, Karim Latiff & Mariani.

Personal Selection - Favourite Malay Dramas (Films / Coloured)

1. Layar Lara (Shuhaimi Baba) – Ida Nerina, Sidi Oraza, Azean Irdawaty, Man Bai & Shazleen Shahbi.

- Shuhaimi Baba has always been a bold and inventive filmmaker. Her TV Movie, "Maria", captured my attention years before she ventured onto the Big Screen. Her first official Film was "Selubung", but she topped herself with "Layar Lara". And personally, she never quite managed to capture such form ever since. The storyline and the acting were superb. One of those rare Malay Movies, at that point in time, to use the Direct Sound Recording method. Great performances from Azean Irdawaty (as always), Ida Nerina (always dependable to deliver over-the-top performances) and the rest of the supporting casts, especially Man Bai, Shazleen Shahbi, and the group of Veteran Actors. But I will always remember this movie for two reasons - one is the "gedik" act by Ida Nerina, singing over the phone while talking to Maman... and the other involves Sidi Oraza lashing out his anger towards the indisciplined Ena Manjalara (Ida Nerina). Sidi Oraza had a wonderfully controlled emotion that erupted at the very right moment. Sidi is a brilliant actor who had earlier won the Best Actor accolade in the Festival Film Malaysia (FFM) for his portrayal of a mental patient in "Sayang Salmah". He won his 2nd Best Actor award for his portrayal of the Director in this movie. Unfortunately, his career was rather short-lived. If you are given a choice of only watching 3 - 5 Malay Movies that could give you a glimpse of what Malay Movies are all about, than this should definitely be one of those.

2. Sepet (Yasmin Ahmad) – Sharifah Amani, Ng Chen Seong, Ida Nerina, Harith Iskander & Adibah Noor.
3. Abang (Rahim Razali) – Rahim Razali, Ahmad Yatim, Noorkumalasari, Ahmad Termimi Siregar & Ogy Ahmad Daud.
4. Leftenan Adnan (Aziz M. Osman) – Hairie Othman, Umie Aida, Shaharuddin Thamby, Farid Amirul Hisham & Rusdi Ramli.
5. Fenomena (Aziz M. Osman) – Ramona Rahman, M. Nasir, Amy Search, Abu Bakar Omar & Afida Es.
6. Sepi (Kabir Bhatia) - Afdlin Shauki, Vaneeda Imran, Tony Eusoff, Eja, Baizura Kahar, Pierre Andre & Nasya Aziz.
7. Bukit Kepong (Jins Shamsuddin) – Jins Shamsuddin, Hussein Abu Hassan, Yusoff Haslam, A. Rahim & Suhaina Yahya.
8. Perempuan Melayu Terakhir (Erma Fatima) – Eizlan Yusoff, Vaneeda Imran, Azri Iskandar, Nanu Baharuddin & Ahmad Yatim.
9. Selubung (Shuhaimi Baba) – Deanna Yusoff, M. Nasir, Liza Othman, Ida Nerina & Hattan.
10. Hati Bukan Kristal (Raja Ahmad Alauddin) – Erma Fatima, Ridzuan Hashim, Julia Rais, Zaiton Sameon & A. Rahim.

Personal Selection - Favourite Black & White Malay Dramas (Films)

1. Antara Dua Darjat (P. Ramlee) – P. Ramlee, Saadiah, Ahmad Nesfu, S. Kadarisman & S. Shamsuddin.

- "Antara Dua Darjat" boasts perhaps one of the best lists of original songs in any Malay Movies, e.g. "Getaran Jiwa", "Alunan Biola", "Selamat Panjang Umur". P. Ramlee and Saadiah gave one of their best performances ever as Ghazali and Engku Zaleha. P. Ramlee displayed true gentlemanship during the earlier parts of the movie, and later wonderfully displayed a distressed and an emotionally disturbed man with a masterstroke. But the thespian who captured the most attention has got to be S. Kadarisman, whose portrayal as the sinister and egoistic Engku Mukhri led to one of the best confrontations towards the end of the movie. The quote from the film, "Irama dan lagu, tak dapat dipisahkan", became immortal hereafter...

2. Ibu Mertuaku (P. Ramlee) – P. Ramlee, Sarimah, Zaiton, Ahmad Mahmud & Mak Dara.
3. Semerah Padi (P. Ramlee) – Nordin Ahmad, Saadiah, P. Ramlee, Daeng Idris & Salleh Kamil.
4. Sarjan Hassan (P. Ramlee) – P. Ramlee, Saadiah, Jins Shamsuddin, Salleh Kamil & Omar Rojik.
5. Anakku Sazali (P. Ramlee) – P. Ramlee, Zaiton, Tony Costello, Hashimah Yon & Ibrahim Pendek.
6. Lela Manja (Jamil Sulong) – Jins Shamsuddin, Aziz Jaafar, Zaiton, Ahmad Mahmud & Rosnani.
7. Hang Jebat (Hussein Haniff) – Nordin Ahmad, Latifah Omar, M. Amin, Abdullah Sani & Mahmud June.
8. Batu Durhaka (Omar Rojik) – Jins Shamsuddin, Aziz Jaafar, Sarimah, Saamah & S. Kadarisman.
9. Isi Neraka (Jamil Sulong) – Ahmad Mahmud, Saadiah, Salleh Kamil, S. Kadarisman & Haji Mahadi.
10. Penarik Beca (P. Ramlee) – P. Ramlee, Saadiah, Saamah, Udo Omar & Salleh Kamil.

In Retrospect: 2007 - Best Performances (in Hindi Movies)

1. Shahrukh Khan as Kabir Khan (Chak De! India)
2. Abhishek Bachchan as Gurukant K. Desai (Guru)
3. Darsheel Safary as Ishaan Awasthi (Taare Zameen Par)
4. Tabu as Nina Verma (Cheeni Kum)
5. Irrfan Khan as Monty (Life In A Metro)
6. Konkona Sen Sharma as Shruti Ghosh (Life In A Metro)
7. Kareena Kapoor as Geet Dhillon (Jab We Met)
8. Deepika Padukone as Shantipriya (Om Shanti Om)
9. Aamir Khan as Ram Shankar Nikumbh (Taare Zameen Par)
10. Aishwarya Rai as Sujata (Guru) / Shreyas Talpade as Pappu Master (Om Shanti Om)

In Retrospect: 2007 - Best Hindi Movies

1. Taare Zameen Par (Aamir Khan)
2. Chak De! India (Shimit Amin)
3. Om Shanti Om (Farah Khan)
4. Life In A Metro (Anurag Basu)
5. Guru (Mani Ratnam)
6. Jab We Met (Imtiaz Ali)
7. Welcome (Anees Bazmee)
8. Apne (Anil Sharma)
9. Dhamaal (Indra Kumar)
10. Saawariya (Sanjay Leela Bhansali)

2008 - Best Performances (in a Malay Movie)

1. Rosyam Nor (Kala Malam Bulan Mengambang)
2. Afdlin Shauki (Sepi)
3. Zul Huzaimy Marzuki (Wayang)
4. Ruminah Sidek (Pensil)
5. Adlin Aman Ramlie (Susuk)
6. Eman Manan (Wayang)
7. M. Subash Abdullah (Pensil)
8. Baizura Kahar (Sepi)
9. Ida Nerina (Anak)
10. Liyana Jasmay (Histeria)

2008 - Best Malay Movies

1. Sepi (Kabir Bhatia)
2. Kala Malam Bulan Mengambang (Mamat Khalid)
3. Wayang (Hatta Azad Khan)
4. Cuci (Haans Isaac)
5. Susuk (Amir Muhammad)
6. Pensil (M. Subash Abdullah)
7. Kami: The Movie (Effende Mazlan & Fariza Azlina Isahak)
8. Histeria (James Lee)
9. Congkak (Ahmad Idham)
10. Budak Kelantan (Wan Azli)

2008 - Best Animation

1. Wall-E (Andrew Stanton)
2. Kungfu Panda (Mark Osborne & John Stevenson)
3. Waltz With Bashir (Ari Folman)
4. Bolt (Byron Howard & Chris Williams)
5. Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (Eric Darnell & Tom McGrath)

2008 - Best Comedies

1. Tropic Thunder (Ben Stiller)
2. Vicky Christina Barcelona (Woody Allen)
3. Forgetting Sarah Marshall (Nicholas Stoller)
4. Burn After Reading (Joel & Ethan Coen)
5. Yes Man (Peyton Reed)
6. Zack and Miri Make A Porno (Kevin Smith)
7. Happy Go Lucky (Mike Leigh)
8. Be Kind Rewind (Michael Gondry)
9. Semi Pro (Kent Alterman)
10. You Don't Mess With The Zohan (Dennis Dugan)

2008 - Best Action-Oriented Movies

1. The Dark Knight (Christopher Nolan)
2. Iron Man (Jon Favreau)
3. Wanted (Timur Bekmambetov)
4. Quantum of Solace (Marc Forster)
5. The Incredible Hulk (Louis Letterier)
6. Hellboy 2: The Golden Army (Guillermo del Toro)
7. Speed Racer (Andy & Larry Wachowski)
8. Indiana Jones and The Kingdom of The Crystal Skull (Steven Spielberg)
9. Hancock (Peter Berg)
10. Cloverfield (Matt Reeves)

2008 - Best Performances (by an Actress)

1. Kate Winslet as Hanna Schmitz (The Reader)
2. Viola Davis as Mrs. Muller (Doubt)
3. Cate Blanchett as Daisy (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button)
4. Penelope Cruz as Maria Elena (Vicky Christina Barcelona)
5. Dakota Fanning as Lily Owens (The Secret Life of Bees)
6. Anne Hathaway as Kym (Rachel Getting Married)
7. Meryl Streep as Sister Aloysius Beauvier (Doubt)
8. Marisa Tomei as Cassidy (The Wrestler)
9. Angelina Jolie as Fox (Wanted)
10. Amy Adams as Sister James (Doubt)

2008 - Best Performances (by an Actor)

1. Heath Ledger as the Joker(The Dark Knight)
2. Robert Downey Jr. as Kirk Lazarus (Tropic Thunder)
3. Clint Eastwood as Walt Kowalski (Gran Torino)
4. Tom Cruise as Les Grossman (Tropic Thunder)
5. Mickey Rourke as Randy 'The Ram' Robinson (The Wrestler)
6. Sean Penn as Harvey Milk (Milk)
7. Frank Langella as Richard Nixon (Frost / Nixon)
8. Brad Pitt as Benjamin Button (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button)
9. Phillip Seymour Hoffman as Father Brendan Flynn (Doubt)
10. Dustin Hoffman as Harvey Shine (Last Chance Harvey)

2008 - Best Movies of the Year

1. The Dark Knight (Christopher Nolan)
2. Iron Man (Jon Favreau)
3. Tropic Thunder (Ben Stiller)
4. Wall-E (Andrew Stanton)
5. Slumdog Millionaire (Danny Boyle)
6. Vicky Christina Barcelona (Woody Allen)
7. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (David Fincher)
8. The Reader (Stephen Daldry)
9. Doubt (John Patrick Shanley)
10. Wanted (Timur Bekmambetov)

I'm back...

After a considerably long hiatus of almost a year... I'm back.

And this time, I promise to provide more insights to the movies, being a huge fan of them since birth...

I will start with the standard "LISTS" of favourites - movies, actors, actresses, & all those stuff...

Cheerios...

The Blonde Bond

As I recall...

What a miracle it was, that after all these while, in the midst of my indubitably hectic schedule, I managed to grab hold of a seat in the cinema to actually cherish the cinematic feeling of watching the latest Bond flick, Casino Royale.

From the words of mouth and the reviews of critics, and not forgetting my ever-dependable sis-in-law, Casino Royale is said to be different from the normal formulaic nature of the 007 Spy Series previously handed over to cinema fans on a golden plate. This time around, they said James Bond is brasher, more masculine and macho, and merciless to the point of making Pierce Brosnan looked like a sissy.

From the opening sequence, I must say, those words were sneeringly true.

Bond was no usual Bond. This is a Bond whom we have yet to grow accustom to for he was still at his infancy, a spy but not quite a "00-kind" of spy. In order for him to attain the license to kill (and to thrill), he had to accomplish the penultimate requirement of “slaughtering” 2 assignments. In the opening sequence, we get to see the two, in a fleetingly gritty fashion.

Bond was no usual Bond. This is a Blonde Bond, no typical black, prim and proper hair. This is a crew cut version of what we used to come to know of a debonair and dashing super sleuth, with an irresistible English accent, fortunately still intact.

Bond was no usual Bond. He is this time a heartless killer, gruesome and frighteningly brutal when it comes to slicing and dicing his opponents - blowing up Embassies, bashing up dozens of henchmen along the way, doing his own stunts without much help from any typical and usual Bond Gadgets and Gizmos. This time, Bond decides to kill off his opponents largely with his bare hands.

Casino Royale blasts us with a difference in approach and style. Just like any other franchises e.g. Superman, Batman, producers are heading for the roots or the basics nowadays. Batman Series went back to the fore with Batman Begins, while Superman decided to Return to where it all started. Same goes here. James Bond in Casino Royale is a Bond who has no need for technical wizardries (hence Q was not included in the original line up), could not be bothered whether the Lemon Dry Martini is shaken or stirred, and underneath that ruthless demeanor, has a soft spot for a charmingly beautiful lady, played overwhelmingly and deliciously tasteful by Eva Green.

The producers must have had a stronger-than-Brosnan (and obviously Moore) personality in mind. Hence, the reason why Daniel Craig (of "Munich" and "Road to Perdition" fame) was chosen for the role. And by gosh, he fits the role like a glove.

And though I sincerely felt that no one could overtake Sean Connery as the ultimate Bond ever, after all he made the character his with his also rugged and smoldering demeanor, Daniel Craig to me came distinctively a close second.

The World In The Eyes Of Fink... Barton Fink

For the year 2008, I plan to review all the movies that I have been wanting to watch but couldn't for reasons whatsoever... Hence, I kicked off the indomitable plan with "Barton Fink" - the 4th movie to be co-produced, co-written and co-directed by the Coen Brothers i.e. Ethan & Joel Coen.

They have just won the Best Picture Award at the Oscars recently for their latest feature film "No country For Old Men", and it's only fair that they should be the subject of my new venture.

Looking back in retrospect, just like any of their other movies, the title of this movie itself sounds catchy and original. Now, who in the world would have thought of such a title in the first place? Barton Fink? Is he Jewish or what? Judging by the character played by the ever-so-reliable John Turturro (in his best form ever), Fink could easily be recognised as a Jewish lad. These siblings from Minnesotta really knew their stuff...

"Barton Fink" is essentially a story about a new Writer struggling to make an impact in Hollywood. Having had a one hit wonder in Broadway, Fink was summoned to Hollywood by a giant (in every sense of the word) Movie Producer a.k.a. Movie Mogul, Jack Lipnick (played by the Oscar nominated Michael Lerner). He was at first reluctant, but he had ambitions that would dare him to take up the challenge.

It pretty much sums up The Coen Brother's background themselves, having had the opportunity to appear on the Big Screen with "Blood Simple" and moved on with Arty-Farty and not too commercially successful flicks. It's like they are raging their own war against the Hollywood Studios who often dictate what sort of movie they should be making.

In this movie, Fink was asked to produce a 'Wrestling' picture for Wallace Beery - the most popular actor of the time. Set in the early 1940's / 1950's, the Art Direction and the Cinematography by Roger Deakins (the Coen Brother's most faithful collaborator) were luscious and beautiful - carefully setting the mode, the mood and the tone of the movie, which started off with an awful lot of promise and ended up with a rather dark, sinister tale of human morality and quiet ambiguity.

Fink, who was struck with a 'Writer's Block' syndrome, in an effort to overcome his chronic depression, managed to attain the assistance and support of his 'mysterious and over-friendly' neighbour, Charlie Meadows (John Goodman, in one of his utmost convinving fashion), a sexy and generous Personal Assistant to a famous Writer, Audrey (played with much needed angst and sensuousness by Judy Davis), and Fink's highly adored but eternally drunk Writer, W.P. Mayhew (played by the almost unrecognizanle John Mahoney).

Throw in a couple of odd characters, played by oddball, zany character actors like Steve Buscemi, Tony Shalhoub and Jon Polito, what we have here is a totally unpredictable tale of clever 'whodunnit' and artistic featurette in the highest order.

I enjoyed watching "Raising Arizona" and I thought "Fargo" was a much better movie than "The English Patient". I have respect for these 2 brothers and the kind of film they made over the years. And after 20 years in Hollywood, finally they deserve all the recognitions they got for "No Country For Old Men".

But "Barton Fink" is where they gained they first few recognitions in Hollywood and overseas. It garnered 3 Oscar nominations, and won Best Picture, Best Director for Joel Coen and Best Actor for John Turturro at the Cannes Film Festival. Deakins, the cinematographer, himself got a few nods and Awards from several Film Critic Societies.

It's the kind of film that warrants your attention and glues you to your seat while you savour the deliciously written script.

Cheers to the Coens!