12.06.2008
Red Hot Docs: A Complete History of My Sexual Failures
http://www.sydneyfilmfestival.org/film_details.asp?id=71&...
Alright, I admit, the title of the film is a bit bizarre (or perhaps it’s the selling point itself?). But this feature length documentary from UK was included in this years’ Sydney Film Festival and was proven to be a very popular one. I know, I was there.
“A Complete History of My Sexual Failures” was also a hit in Sundance, introduced by one of the festival facilitators. I’ve copied the introduction from Sydney Film Festival’s page:
“Dumped by yet another girl after just three weeks, shabby (with no redeeming chic) and hapless thirtysomething Chris Waitt embarks on a mission to determine the 'why' behind his failed love life. Confused by his multitude of ex-girlfriends' decisive lack of interest in being interviewed for his new project, and yearning to reconnect with the only long-term love of his life (who is totally unavailable), he creates a MySpace page to attract new options and soon reveals an embarrassing performance problem. As the quest becomes more urgent, so the slapstick comedy escalates. Documentary-making as personal sex-therapy is hardly a new form, but this riotously funny film is less interested in the darker preoccupations of I Am a Sex Addict or The Good Woman of Bangkok, and more driven by a beguiling hopelessly romantic everydayness. CS”
Sounds interesting? Well yes. It was even more hysterical when you actually watch it. The audience sort of knew what to expect but the extreme length the director/film Chris Waitt went through was unbelievably painfully comically hilarious. We human being must be a very mean species – how we enjoy laughing at people’s misfortune!
Chris Waitt was there at the Beginning of the film to introduce his documentary. When he started speaking we knew he had a wicked sense of humour. Perhaps more like the Monty Python type of humour, or perhaps that’s really the only type of British humour I’ve encountered with. (then you count the Black Adder, Fawlty Towesr, Yes Minister…) Anyway in the end of the film he again presented himself there for audience to ask him questions. By that time we already felt that we’ve known Chris, in person, for many many years, after watching all the humiliating things he had gone through in the film. There was not a lot of questions relating to film/documentary making. People are more interested in the aftermath. The audience just loved this likeable loser, and an accidental filmmaker.
Apparently it took a very experienced editor to work on it from 400 hours of footage to form this documentary. No one in the production team, even the filmmaker himself, was sure about how it would turn out. But in the end it all worked out well. Because as it turned out, “A Complete History of My Sexual Failures” was not just about sex, it was about, as corny as it might sound, finding love.
08:31 Posted in 電影廊 FILMS | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this | Tags: film, documentary, sex, love, relationship
15.09.2007
Funny Face
I spent the afternoon watching an old movie with my mum. We love Audrey Hepburn and Fred Astaire's "Funny Face" (1957).
I just love the old movies with the typical Hollywood happy endings. They are best to watch on a lazy Saturday afternoon or Sunday morning. Something light and easy. It makes me believe that life is simply beautiful.
"Funny Face" is a romantic comedy set in both New York and Paris. A bit of "Devil wears Prada" and a bit of "Cinderella". As a girl I can't expect anything better than this can I? And Audrey was just gorgeous. Fred such a marvelous dancer...
Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxFEN6Z2VIA
22:40 Posted in 電影廊 FILMS | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this | Tags: Film, Movie, Audrey Hepburn, Funny Face, Musical, Diary
13.09.2007
不能說的秘密
昨晚看了周杰倫＂不能說的秘密＂．
對我來說， 與其說是看電影， 不如說是為了我的回憶， 因為電影的場景就設在我唯一且短暫的台灣高中生涯． 我在淡江中學只待了短短的一學期，但滿滿都是甜蜜與苦澀屬於青春的回憶．
電影裡學生們奔走的長廊， 畢業典禮的大禮堂， 淡江有名的八角塔，一走進校門內綠蔭遮天的走道，還有英式橄欖球對在綠地上操練的吼叫聲．．．
在校園裡的純純的愛， 那種相信世上最重要的只有你跟我， 其他的人事物只是附屬品， 我們只為對方而活的天真．．．
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eY9rAas-FMQ
23:25 Posted in 電影廊 FILMS | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this | Tags: movie, memory, love, diary
26.01.2007
BABEL
昨晚與M在朋友的推薦下一起去看了電影"BABEL" (中文譯名為"火線交錯"), BABEL分別敘述同時發生在三個地區原本看似不相干的四段故事, 在緩緩鋪陳下才發現每一段故事各自的因果關係都與另一段緊緊相繫. 由一個錯誤(或愚蠢)而造成的連串悲劇, 又因為語言文化的隔閡而加重了悲劇的發生. 對我來說BABEL是一個令人心碎的電影.
電影取名"BABEL"其實是取自聖經創世紀的故事，其中一章記載著古巴比倫擬建造一座通天的高塔，上帝見而憂道：＂他們成為一樣的人民，都說著同樣的語言， 如今又做起這樣的事來， 以後他們要做的事就沒有不成就的了．＂ 於是便變亂人的口音將他們分散至各地，人們互相無法溝通， 塔也就因此停工了． 這座從未完成的塔就建在Babel城理， 史稱＂巴別塔＂．於是ｂａｂｅｌ一字變代表著＂變亂＂的意思．
於是這齣戲便圍繞著因為語言及文化的差異而產生的誤解, 與隨之而來的悲劇. 悲劇的產生不僅僅是語言的溝通, 其中一段故事的主角是一對美國夫婦, 即使是說著同樣的語言生於同一文化, 卻是相敬如冰無法溝通. 另一段主角則是個年輕漂亮的聾啞人士, 完全失去了語言的能力, 只能靠著自己的肉體本能討取注意...
人與人之間的瞭解原來不僅僅只是語言而已, 最遠的距離也不是用尺度量. 心碎沒有國界.
17:40 Posted in 電影廊 FILMS | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this | Tags: Movie, relationship, love, life
16.06.2006
看了The Break-Up
好友B和我有著不成文的"星期五電影之約". 因為最近沒什麼好片, 於是昨晚在B的兒子建議之下, 選擇了The Break-Up這部片子.
原本只是抱著看看浪漫喜劇也無妨的想法, 加上一天到晚在八卦雜誌上看到Jennifer Aniston跟Vince Vaughn的新聞, 也想看看他們兩個到底有沒有什麼"化學效應", 所以並沒有對這部片子有什麼特別期望. 就是因為這樣, 我和B在電影終了走出戲院的時候還有著驚艷的感覺.
因為這並不是一部傳統的浪漫喜劇或是約會電影. 事實上, 這也許是部完全不適合正在熱戀中的人看的電影. 但是只要是任何經歷過長期感情生活的人(同居或是婚姻關係), 就會不自覺地被這部電影觸摸到心裡某一處...
有影評是這樣寫的"The Break-Up is a highly watchable drama that contains elements of cleaver comdy", 這句話真是再貼切不過了 .
21:25 Posted in 電影廊 FILMS | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this | Tags: Movies, relationship
22.05.2006
看了達文西密碼
雖然影評人一致唱衰, 我們還是決定去看"The Da Vinci Code".
＂坎城的影評這麼爛，我們還要去看嗎？＂我問Ｍ．Ｍ說：＂看啊！因為可能 １．坎城影評人都很傲慢 ２．傲慢的坎城影評人都是天主教徒 ３．真的很爛 但是爛的很好笑 （報上有登很多觀眾在看戲的時候忍不住大笑） ｉｎ ｔｈｉｓ ｃａｓｅ 可以把它當喜劇來看＂
我們兩個人都看了原著，都同時覺得前面７０％的內容很緊湊，但是後面３０％就開始草草率率莫名其妙太過簡單的收尾了．彷彿Ｄａｎ Ｂｒｏｗｎ寫著寫著寫到一半寫累了說：＂啊隨便啦，不然就這樣算了＂，然後如釋重負地把稿子交給出版商．不過我們都承認雖然這本書不是文學名作，但是個ｆｕｎ ｒｅａｄ．所以還是滿期待看電影版的．
興致勃勃地進了戲院，坐下來沒開演沒幾分鐘便發現．．．忠於原著的開場真的有點怪．．．看書的時候不覺得，但是搬到電影上就看出破綻了．
例如，多數警察跟探長跟蘭登主角都是男的，如果蘭登是重大謀殺嫌疑犯的話為什麼沒有人跟他一起去廁所呢？還有，羅浮宮裡躺了個死人，還是鼎鼎大名的館長，居然會連一個警察都沒有在旁守著屍體嗎？還能讓藍登跟蘇菲趁著＂調虎離山＂之際，跑回犯罪現場尋線破解密碼嗎？
我悄悄地在Ｍ的耳邊說：＂難怪有人會笑．．．如果我是法國人，也會覺得這部片太扯了．＂
從戲院出來時我們兩人邊走邊聊彼此對這部電影的感想．Ｍ的感想是有點長的ＯＫ電影但不會推薦給別人看．我的感想呢，＂搞不好這部片子是天主教教廷出的錢，故意選角選得很爛，然後故意把它拍得很爛，這樣就沒有人會相信書裡寫的了！＂
Ｔalk about conspiracy theory!!
PS. 真的要提一下, 澳洲郊區的電影院通常很大 (十幾個廳外搭上千個停車位), 遇到強檔片時還會用兩廳或三廳上演. 所以幾乎很少有需要排隊的時候. 而且澳洲人早睡早起, 那種超過晚上九點 (通常是最晚的一場!)的戲都是小貓兩三隻. M跟我是老神在在地開到Cinema想說應該沒什麼人吧.
錯!! 上千車位幾乎全滿, 買票要等, 然後我們還排了十五分鐘!! (我知道我知道, 比起台北, 十五分鐘是小CASE...)
00:40 Posted in 電影廊 FILMS | Permalink | Comments (2) | Email this | Tags: Movies