Insane and Insensible




A few days ago, Mariana was trying to let me in on the philosophy behind the movie "Un chien andalou", by Luis Buñuel and Salvador Dalí. I don't know how or why the readings I'm doing for my final essay made me think about our discussion, but I took advantage of this flashback and looked up the movie on youtube. I found it, I watched it, I didn't understand much of it, of course, then I went on wikipedia, I understood a bit more, and I finally accepted the fact that I have to dedicate more time to deciphering this movie... as soon as possible. Until then, I only have one question: am I weird for not being repulsed or shocked by the famous shot of the eye getting cut by a knife? Buñuel himself said he placed that scene at the beginning so that people would enter a psychedelic state that would allow them to better absorb the surreal atmosphere of the movie. Am I already that dysfunctional or is it just that I've seen this scene too many times and read even more about it?

Oscars Night

When I was in Romania, I could never see the Oscars movies before the actual night of the awards. That's why ever since I've been on the other side of the Atlantic, I've tried to view them all before the ceremony. This year I had to keep on postponing it because of schoolwork, so this weekend there's sort of a marathon going on at my house: I have to watch a movie every 3 hours. I'm already drowned, but I have to keep going. I've just finished "Elizabeth" and now I'm getting ready for "There Will Be Blood". I've sort of made up my mind about who I think will win the Oscars, but can't say anything until I've seen them all... or almost all.

The Last Legion

I've just finished watching the third episode of "The Last Legion". No, it's a regular almost two-hour movie, but I kept falling asleep while watching , so it seemed like a series to me. It's truly not a boring film, it's just me who hasn't got much sleep lately. I'm not going to comment on it, I'm not so good with critic, I'll just say that it's a historical movie worth watching, that has nothing in common with the bad, bad joke that was "300".
There's something else I'm concerned with: did women wear modern make-up in the 5th century? Even more, did women wear make-up and look gorgeous while fighting better than men?
Neah, I'm just teasing. The movie is very interesting for those who are looking to know a bit more about Roman history, as it deals with the resistance of the 9th legion against the Goths, in order to protect the young Emperor Romulus Augustus Cesar. Although years don't quite match, as Wikipedia proves, the movie gives people an idea about the events that took place in that period of time and the importance honor and patriotism had in those days.

Roberto Benigni Between Principessas and Tigers


At first, there was "Life Is Beautiful" ("Vita è bella"). In my book, I mean, since that was the first Roberto Benigni film I saw. I had heard about this famous movie, I had seen the director and actor jump like a monkey on his way to the Oscar stage, but I hadn't gotten an occasion to see the movie. I finally got it this spring, in the most suitable company there is. I never thought I could laugh at a movie about the Holocaust. "Life Is Beautiful" interweaves tragedy, laughter, tears and romance in a story that tries to teach us that love of all kinds can survive in the most challenging circumstances. The audience can't help but fall in love with this Jewish Italian family (actually, the mother is not Jewish, which gives the movie a sweet and sour twist). The first part of the movie lets us in the adorable, smart and humorous way in which Guido Orefice charms Dora and convinces her to become his wife. I mean... this may not be the best looking man out there, but I simply fell in love with him... in between falls of laughter and sighs, that is. In the second part, the two and their little boy are taken to a concentration camp, where Dora gets separated from the men of her life. All I can say is that the laughter doesn't stop, no matter how much sadness one might feel. I was never torn between emotions so much; one minute I was laughing, the other one I felt like crying... but couldn't, because Roberto Benigni would give me a reason to at least smile in the next instant. I could not describe all the feelings this movie made me aware of, but every other day I still find myself saying "Buongiorno principessa!", trying in vain to imitate Benigni's joy. I thought the cards scene from "Love Actually" was romantic, but the one from this movie beats it by far, and has much more profound implications.
Tonight I had a second taste of this Italian's boundless personality and sensitivity. Cavilers might argue that "The Tiger and the Snow" ("La tigre e la neve") follows the storyline of "Life Is Beautiful", but I beg to differ. It's true that it presents the horrors of another historical conflict (the Iraq war) and that the plot is based, again, on the intricate ways of love, but this should not lead to underestimating the movie's substance and original humor. Attilio de Giovanni, a poet and university professor, goes to Irak after finding out that his ex-wife, whom he's still in love with, was hurt in an explosion and might die within the next hours. I wouldn't say I liked this one as much as "Life Is Beautiful", but it reinforced my desire of looking for as many of Roberto Benigni's movies as I can. I mean, the guy talks to camels, has keys falling from the sky on request, is smart, incredibly funny and would make the most romantic gestures for his wife (at least in the movies, although I doubt this is the case).

"The Tudors"

I've said before that I like Jonathan Rhys Meyers, and I'm not talking only about his mesmerizing eyes. I see him as a very talented young actor, who can embrace a wide diversity of roles. The only thing these roles have in common is the chemistry born each time not only between him and the female leader, but also between him and the audience. There's a new TV series beginning March 12 on Showtime, called "The Tudors", series that takes a different approach to the life of Henry VIII. Although his most famous portrait shows him as an overweight, not so handsome man, "The Tudors" will depict him in his youth, as "the rock star of his time" that he was. I will not be able to see it, unfortunately, until August, but it looks like a promising show that will teach us a bit more about history. That is, unless the sexual scenes will not overwhelm the script. The screenwriter is the same one who wrote the script for "Elizabeth", which I haven't had the opportunity to see just yet, it's true. It looks like a promissing show... I hope it will be more than that.