Circumstance (2011)

Circumstance is a story of two teen lesbian in Tehran, Iran which I had just known it exists in this world last month. I have never seen a lesbian love story from Middle East before, especially from Iran, where I had the direct experience about its strict religion laws. So, I was quite exciting to see this film. Though the first 10 minutes is quite boring because it’s a characters introduction part, after 15 minutes, it started getting more fun and interesting.

**Spoiler Alert**

Our female protagonists are from the difference family base. They are in the same school together, hang out together, sleep over together and do most of the things together. To their families and friends, they are just close friends, but the fact is they are in love with each other. Atafeh is a teenage girl who is raised by the modern, non-religious, Muslim parent with wealth and warmth while Shireen comes from middle class family. She lives with her old-fashioned uncle and her modern grandmother since her well-educated parent died in political movement.

Throughout the movie, it’s Shireen who expresses her love to Atafeh vividly. She always asks her to run away to Dubai, where they can be free and truly be themselves, but Atafeh seems not to pay attention to Shireen’s wish much (I don’t know why but I guess it might because of her wealthy and hi-society family). Anyway, I still can feel that Atafeh is so in love with Shireen as well – she just doesn’t show off that much.

One night after party, the girls were arrested for driving and smoking by the morality police, whom Mehran (Atafeh’s ex-junkie brother) is working with. Atafeh is tested for her virginity and was accused for not being virgin while Shireen is rescued by Mehran, who appears to fall in love with her. After that, the relationship between the girls changed. Shirleen has to married off and the groom happens to be Mehran, and of cause, Atafeh is heart-broken. She has no idea Shireen married her brother just to be close to her until one night when they speak their minds and express their true feelings in bed.

Well, life is not a bed of roses. Mehran, who has been spying on everybody in the house through his hidden cameras, discovers the secret relationship between his wife and his sister. Though at the end there’s nothing bad happen to the girls physically, they are already broken emotionally.

During watching, I was wondering why Iran in Circumstance and Iran in my mind is really different. When I went to Iran last year, I didn’t see any alcohol, cigarettes, drugs or anywhere that seemed like a pub or party at all. What I saw and tried were fermented grape juice without alcohol that tastes like plum juice and fruity-flavored Hookah without nicotine. So, it's quite unbelievable for me to see the characters drink, smoke, take drug and make out in the movie. Well, I didn’t see every part of Iran so it is new for me to know the other side of Middle East world apart from what I had experienced. Anyway, the only thing that made me believe that I was watching Iranian flick was the strictness of the morality police.

Since Iran’s religion laws are really strict – even a foreign girl like me had to wear a headscarf in public as well - I was wondering how the director filmed this kind of plot in Iran and how they made the actresses dare to play lesbian roles. My questions were answered when I found that Circumstance was shot in Lebanon and the two main actresses are brought up in the Western culture. The chemistry between them is quite good and I am quite into them (in the movie of cause!).

For me, everything in Circumstance is “REAL”, especially the sexual discrimination in Middle East world, where men are the boss and women are the second class citizen. Personally, I already feel sad for Middle East women for being push under pressure and social rules so they cannot express how they feel. But when I saw this movie, I feel even more frustrated for those women who are gay and have to live in such an austere world. Another thing that I feel so “REAL” is the end. It’s neither happy ending nor tragic but it’s deeply sad, hurt and unforgettable.

Final say : I think Circumstance is a very good movie, both in lesbian and social aspects. It made me realized that no matter how strict the law or the religion is, drug and sex can infiltrate through. I feel so glad for being a lesbian in my country, though it is quite hypocrite one, I still have freedom to be who I am – don’t have to hide or run away to somewhere else.

The Boy In The Striped Pajamas (2008)

When I saw Asa Butterfield in Hugo trailors and interviews, I felt that this boy is really charming and I am so in love with his blue eyes & British accent. So, I decided to google his filmography and The Boy In The Striped Pajamas was the only movie of him I could find. I heard this film is quite good too but I'd better see it with my own eyes.

As I had never read a book by John Boyne before, therefore at first I thought The Boy In The Striped Pajamas is a coming of age film that our boy would learn from the cruelty of the war and become a man who sees the world understandably. And I was still thinking that it’s a happy coming of age story until the last 15 minutes of the movie that I suddenly realized what I had thought was wrong! The Boy In The Striped Pajamas is another movie that taught me to realize that “the reality is crueler than I thought, especially during the war time!!!”. The innocence of children didn’t lessen the cruelty of the war at all.

I felt so depressed at the end of the movie and hoped that what I had just seen wasn’t true. It was so heartbreaking!!! Those feelings are the same as what happen to me when I watched Schindler’s List. To me, The Boy In The Striped Pajamas is another World War II movie that I love.

Believe it or not? I couldn’t stop thinking about this movie for weeks. It was really touching!

Sleeping Beauty (2011)

These are my feeling towards Sleeping Beauty (2011).

 

Before watching : There must be something good about this Sleeping Beauty (2011). I heard so much about it in the movie websites. The poster seemed interesting too. Well, I wanted to see it.

First 30 minutes : OK, she is hard working, do a lot of jobs and totally easy for sex.

30 minutes later : Oh! What a job!!! Wow…she has a very fair skin!!!

Last 30 minutes : Why? Why?? Why????

After Watching : To be honest, I really had no idea what I have just watched!!! I don’t understand what the director was trying to tell me throughout 90 minutes of the film. It totally wasted my time!!!

The Help (2011)

Actually, I’ve heard about the excellence of The Help for a while but I haven’t paid attention to it much. I just thought I would watch it if the chance comes. At first I thought The Help is a romantic-comedy about the servants who help their boss to find a husband something like that, but I was wrong!! It’s totally drama and it is a GOOD one. Throughout 146 minute, no scene was boring. It has it all; drama, comedy, sad, and impressive. For me, The Help is one of the “best” racism-related films.

The Help is a story about black servants in the American society in 1960s, when most of the white American had the black helper to feed their children, clean the house and be a babysitter. Anyway, those helpers had no right to be equal to the bosses – not even be able to use the same restroom with them. This circumstance was seen, told and written by the young white writer to support the civil right movement at that time. The movie itself expresses the hard life of colored people very well so I questioned myself all the time I was watching why the whites were so cruel and selfish. However, amid the serious racism, there was some impressive generousness between the whites and the colors thorough the movie as well. I personally cried with the plot about Skeeter (Emma Stone) and her babysitter – Constantine, especially the height measurement scene.

When I finished watching, I thought to myself that it would be very hard for Oscar board to choose which one should be nominated for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress. Why??? Because all of them were frigging great at their roles!!! Especially Bryce Dallas Howard as an extreme racist and Jessica Chastain as a hick housewife with sad secrets – their performances were intense and priceless.  Other actresses like Emma Stone, Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer were also superb at their roles as well but not as good as Howard and Chastain (IMHO).

Final say : The Help is one of my favorite films in 2011.

The Three of Life (2011)

I was sitting in Tribhuvan airport in Nepal while I decided to watch The Three of Life. I wanted to see some good movie to recover myself from feeling dizzy and headache caused by the protests in Katmandu at that time. So, I picked this one, hoping to see the superb drama from good actors like Brad Pitt, Sean Penn and Jessica Chastain.

But I was disappointed after watching for 30 minutes and I felt more dizzy, sleepy and headache. Maybe it was my fault to think The Three of Life is an intense drama story. Well, there is a drama in this movie but just only 50%. Why? Because the rest 50% is a damn National Geographic documentary about the origin of the world!!!! If you love watching documentary, The Three of Life is one of the best cinematography ones (and yes, it is nominated for this category in Oscar 2012 as well). 

I am not so good at watching movies that has a very deep meaning, so to be honest, I almost died of boredom watching this movie!!!

Anyway, there's something I like in it too - it's Jessica Chastain's performance. That's the only thing I can think of when I think about The Tree of Life.

Sleepy Hollow (1999)

The 1999 Tim Burton's film that I have never had a chance to see until 13 years passed by. It's a bit weird to see Johnny Depp with younger and more handsome face after getting used to his Capt. Jack Sparrow face with beard for the past few years though.

As most of Tm Burton's film, Sleepy Hallow also has the dark theme with funny and weird character. I really enjoyed Depp's performance in this. The story is not so boring - just so so. It's good for time-killing though. The only thing I don't like about Sleepy Hollow is the chemistry between Depp & Ricci which is totally "Zero" for me.
 

Why? Well, I've seen Depp since he was still with Winona Ryder in the 90's. Besides, Ricci and Ryder used to play as sisters in Mermaid (1990) so the thought that "Depp is Ricci's sister's boyfriend" came up in my mind since I saw the poster of this Sleepy Hollow. 

I know it's stupid and I admit that :P

Winter's Bone (2010)

After watching, I tried so hard to figure out why this movie was nominated for Oscar's Best Picture 2011. 

Was it because of the screenplay? - No! 

Well, because of the acting? - I don't think so!

The production? - Seriously?

The director? - OK, Stop it!

Yeah, I should stop thinking about that as finally it didn't win. 

Personally, I was so bored watching this movie from the first till last minute as the plot has nothing interesting at all. It's just about a girl looks for her missing father. I didn't know why he disappeared, why her uncle and other relatives reacted to her questions like that, why they didn't get along well, why someone has to lie and many WHYs that run in my head throughout 100 minutes of the movie. The only thing I knew was that Winter's Bone is the real pain in the ass to watch. It was the most boring 100 minutes of my day and it really wasted my time.

Final say : Winter's Bone is recommended for those who are insomniac.

Schindler's List (1993)

 

Actually, I used to see Schindler's List since it was released for the first time in 1993. But since I was quite young (11 years old at that time), I couldn't remember much about it. I've heard about its excellence and dramatic impression but I had no chance to see it intentionally until now.

Though the end title came up to the screen, I couldn't stop myself crying for the cruelty of the war and the horrible destiny of the Jews. Throughout 195 minutes, I felt so sorry the Jews and hate all the Nazis. I wondered how people can harm each other that much. What did the Jews do wrong? How the Nazis could be proud of their race? What made the Nazis think they could torture the Jews like that? So many questions run trough my brain!!!

As a movie, Schindler's List has everything the best film should have; great director, great actors, great screenplay, great scores, great production, etc. No character is unnecessary. Liam Neeson, Sir Ben Kingsley and Ralph Fiennes were superb at their roles. I love the performance of Sir Ben Kingsley in this movie and totally hate Ralph Fiennes with his Amon Geoth character - he's the real EVIL!!!! In my opinion, Amon Geoth is the most disgusting Nazi character in movie history!!! 

I really, really, really LOVE this film.

Limitless (2011)

The story of a man who addicts to a wicked pill that can turn a stupid hopeless person to be a super smart and genius one within 30 seconds. 

During watching, I so wondered what the world would be if this pill really existed. Well, what I can think of are that children don't have to go to school, people don't need to have experience or to practice before doing anything, laziness will disappear, the world will full of chaos as everybody are capable to do anything, and the pill manufacturer will be GOD. Another thing I can think of is that I need to buy tons of it to get rid of my stupidity and laziness.

Brad Cooper seems to get use to with his handsome smart ass characters (apart from The Hangovers 1 & 2), so in my opinion, his performance is so so. Robert De Niro is still excellent in every role he gets, including this one. 

Final say : As a movie, Limitless is fun but nothing to think of after finish watching.

Last Night (2010)

Another adultery movie that makes you have a question in mind about your lover if he/she has someone else in his/her heart. Personally, I hate this kind of adultery affair movie as it makes me feel that love doesn't really exist and marriage is nothing. If you asked me if "Last Night" is as good as "Unfaithful", my answer will be "definitely no". But if you asked me what the best adultery film is, I'd say "The End of the Affair".

PS. I'm not a huge fan of Keira Knightley and Sam Worthington and I'm sorry to all their fans to say that their performance is sucks, especially Knightley. I really have no idea why she always pouts her mouth like that. It's really unnatural and annoying!