Hesher – Spencer Susser

Grieving is one thing, being nonchalant is another. When these two scenarios come together we had Hesher (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) – a heavy metal, malevolent but kind-hearted guy to save your day.

The movie greeted us with an early teen, TJ (David Brochu) wounded by the recent death of his mother. Fail to purchase the wasted car, which his mother died inside, as a memory. He became a trouble stricken kid and runs into a bigger firecracker, Hesher. TJ cost Hesher his shelter, thus resulted the uninvited Hesher to his place.

The title character Hesher was a deviant person; he walked into your life without your consensus. As the story developed, we learnt that he had his own way in helping people. The metaphor he told, might seem a little difficult to digest but he meant every word he said. He might not even know his words have indeed effect on other people. He never sugarcoated his words, he said whatever he wanted, did whatever he wanted. And they were not always bad. It was just the way he acted might be misleading sometimes but his intentions were good.

When Hesher was spotted on the couch in their living room, TJ’s dad, Paul (Rainn Wilson) only asked who he was. May be it’s due to his intimidating appearance or Paul was too tired to bother to deal with the intruder. Not long we found him having dinner with their family and bonding quickly with TJ’s grandma. Somehow Hesher blended in the family. He might seem nonchalant, however, his action said the other. This was proven by the way he helped TJ and his reaction after grandma’s death.

Sure there were a lot of problems existing in the family. The father and son duo were traumatized by the death and grandma was trying to get a hold of the boys. And even Natalie Portman’s /producer character had a lot to offer. Life isn't perfect as we all do aware of. It’s about how to make every second counts instead of blaming the world and hating everything.

Sometimes grieving overshadowed the bright future we have in front of us. I am not saying we should put all the sadness away. It’s just that we should remember, no matter what happens, there are always two sides of a story.

The Glamour - Christopher Priest

1 victim, 2 witnesses, and 3 statements, which side the story we should listen to.

The story was written backwards but it seemed the other way round. One of the characters, Richard suffered from amnesia, which he had lost partial of his memories. There were so many versions of his life, one from his hypnotised sections and the other from Sue. One happened in France and the other happened in the UK, which left me thinking which was the real version. When he started to believe Sue’s version, the intrusion came in when Richard found out Niall (Sue’s ex) knew everything about him, not simply “things” but his future. Everything suddenly became surreal. How could Niall know everything? Or he simply was just being schizophrenic.

"Wish you were here,” signed X. the post card from France.

Christopher Priest led us to a huge confusion. Especially the post cards, they appeared in the story 3 times featured 3 versions, First before the accident was sent by Richard, Second also before the accident was sent by Niall and third after the accident was sent by Richard. Again, which was the actual one?

"We all make fictions. Not one of us is what we seem. ... The urge to rewrite ourselves as real-seeming fictions is present in us all. In the glamour of our wishes we hope that our real selves will not be visible."

Once the narrator revealed what was the true meaning of ‘the glamour’, which was the invisibility of a person. It was like playing a jigsaw puzzle, pieces by pieces you assembled a world in front of you. When I tried to relate the whole idea of glamour to the world, it does make sense; people are always trying to hide things from each other, at home, at work, everything, and everywhere. People always hide the truth of themselves, which is why people switch on their invisible mode.

No matter you were invisible or not, people could still sense the differences. People knew you were hiding something. There is no absolute invisibility. Not knowing the truth doesn’t mean not aware of its authenticity.

It seemed like there was someone invisible behind me forcing me to turn the pages, pushing my head down. I just can’t stop myself thinking about the book. Christopher Priest really got the power to pull me into the story. This book was first published in 1984, more than 2 decades now, its actually timeless, it will captivate you within seconds.

Something Like Summer – Jay Bell

There is something unique about this book, which set it apart from its genre. Sometimes homosexual themed novels could be carried away by the idealistic life of a peaceful gay world or the protagonist always ended up with the hot cute guy or happily ever after endings. “Something like Summer” does fit into one of these shoes, however, unlike the others it presented in a more sophisticated way which takes us on a roller coaster ride.

Jay Bell takes us through Benjamin Bentley’s life. Ben came out when he was 14. Since then he had been with different curious guys, no one was really looking for long lasting love but just fooling around with him. Until one day he saw a cute jogger in his neighborhood and hoping one day they could be boyfriends. And of course life wasn’t always we hoped it was but life continued. So what happens?

The novel is broken down into 3 parts: one, high school, two, college and three, adulthood. Life is supposed to be full of surprises and dilemmas. Despite that the fact that sometimes it could be easily fit into those cheesy scenarios, then these relatable crossroads pulling you closer to Ben, feeling as helpless as Ben keep your fingers turning the pages urging your mind read faster than your actions. It would be a tough call for me, if I were Ben. I guess most of us would feel the same way too. It’s already difficult to forget your first love; it would be even harder if you have unsettled feelings for them. I kept asking myself when I was reading it, would I do the same? I love about this novel is that it kept me thinking throughout my read.

It’s really hard to run away from those stupid little mistakes we made, the real challenge is how we handle them. One wrong move could cost your entire relationship. And how strong your relationship is could also put into account. I don't know why I felt I was in Ben’s shoes, not that I have any similar happened to me. It’s the power of the author, how he decided to write about a life of a person, it feels like I was growing up with Ben. Sometime this kind of story would get a bit boring but not this one.

The story is a bit unexpected, not a bad ending nor a happy ending. I was dumbfounded and needed some time to take in what I have read, in a good way. Overall it became one of my all time favourites. And I have to say there aren’t many on that list. So I’m really impressed.

Boy A – John Crowley

Eric Wilson (Andrew Garfield) is given a new identity when he is released – Jack Burridge, in order to help him readjust life after spending years in juvenile prison for murder. Under the help from a rehabilitation worker Jake is given a job and a place to live.

No matter what he had done in the past, Jack seems to be a genuine, good person. From the fresh backs of his childhood we know he was brought up in a broken family, alcoholic father and a mother dying from cancer. Constantly being bullied. He was never a bad kid. When the bad influence and malevolent Philip Craig came to the picture, Jack quickly follow suit Philip’s behaviours maybe his loneliness drive to the hands of evil. Later we learnt that Philip was sexual abused by his brother. It seemed to explain his provocative actions.

This is not a typical get back to the society story, it’s about a kid never once has stepped his feet into the world. The movie did not mention any of his imprisonment. It starts from his last day of prison. He has been living in discipline almost his entire life. His soul is purified and innocent. How he interacts with the actual world is compelling to watch but yet brutal.

Something is haunting Jack, the real reason why his friend Philip Craig (the second defendant of the drastic murder) reported committed suicide but Jack suggested it was the opposite. Neither of boys took the sole responsibility of the murder, neither of them gave any detail to determine who should be locked longer. Which implies the close bond between the boys. The story implicated Philip was the troublemaker. And it was Philip who started it. The story never reveals the truth but it was obvious.

From the beginning of the movie we could almost predict the ending. Why he has to change his identity? Which implies people are not forgetful, in order to live a better life one must change ones name to penetrate the people without a trace. How ironic people say giving others second chance which only implies to those with minor record.

People are not perfect, and every single one of us deserves a second chance. We have no right to deprive others’ chances because of our prejudice and preconception.

FM84 2011/5/9 Vol 2

FM84 逢周二下午六時播放


第一節【兩位主持本周電影口味分享，少不了品評一下本周新上畫電影】
本周上畫 / Tony要強烈為大隻雷Thor辯護，討伐4res / 由《Limitless》（逆天潛能）的藥物借用引伸至美少女戰士其中一集？ / 阿根廷電影《XXY》（我是女生，也是男生）帶出的性別錯摸很值得深思




第二節【音樂雜談】Tony主理
樂隊Hurts訪港，Tony熱熾推介 / Billboard榜動態更新，歌曲飆升有時似股市 / Lady Gaga新歌MV出街Tony無好感？ / Maroon 5也來香港，Tony棒場




第三節【電影專題雜談】4res主理
Pixar 25周年展覽介紹 / 4res和Tony一人選一套最喜愛的Pixar作品

FM84 2011/5/2 Vol 1

FM84 逢周二下午六時播放

第一節【兩位主持本周電影口味分享，少不了品評一下本周新上畫電影】

本周上畫 / Tony和4res看了些甚麼 / 順便講兩句itunes有相當廉宜的電影租貸服務？

第二節【音樂雜談】Tony主理

美國藝人銷量提升法 / Lady Gaga新碟上榜只能踏入梗頸十；力邀Britney Spears作featuring的Rihanna終如願登上Number One趕落Katy Perry / 來自美劇Glee的音樂推介

第三節【電影專題雜談】4res主理

由3D肉蒲團延伸至本土情慾片的文化？ / Tony推介兩套歐美情色電影

Twelve – Joel Schumacher

Consider this is a crossover between Gossip Girl and Skins. It’s Spring Break on the Upper East Side. We don't need too many details to determine how wasted our generation is. The story is based on the controversial novel written by Nick McDonell published when he was 17. Which many people questioned whether his background or his connection got him the deal or the opposite.

The story opens with White Mike (Chase Crawford from Gossip Girl) the drug dealer once wealthy but after his mother’s death he dropped out from school and started dealing with his ex-classmates. White Mike is the key to the story. He intertwines with every one. with the narrator Kiefer Sutherland gives us enough information to understand the characters we don't have to ponder much.

I like idea of having a bunch of spoiled kids trying to have some fun in their Spring Break. The story doesn't really focus on anyone maybe White Mike but it's the full picture makes it more appealing even the so-called good kids are willing to buy drugs for the people they like. Kids with good grades would sacrifice their virginity for drugs. The desire of being in page 6, wanted to get laid and more. In my eyes I don’t see any bad kids, they are just struggling to stay tune with their peers or even standout from them. They don’t have any intention to hurt anybody but mostly they are selfish and self-centered.

I don’t think it matters if we can’t remember who’s who in the movie. This is just not the point. The movie is just making a statement by telling people no matter how beautiful they seem to be, deep down there is an unleashed monster awaiting a chance to ambush their pray in order to get what they want.

This is just a peek in today adolescent’s life. What I see lead to all this is the lack of parental attention, I am not taking about supervision or guidance. They are just not there when their kids needed them. All they need is some love from their parents.

I do have to admit there is way too much of narrating. I believe the audiences are smart enough to understand what is really happening. Would have loved the movie more if there had been less or no VO.

To me this is just sheer reality.

Buried – Rodrigo Cortés

Waking up in a confined wooden coffin, buried somewhere in the middle of Iraq. With a blackberry, a Zippo and a pencil. Do you think you find your ground again?

We stay under ground in the wooden box through out the entire movie, and the only person we could see is Paul Conroy (Ryan Reynolds) a contracted truck driver working in Iraq. Somehow he is buried alive, and luckily he isn't buried deep, as he can still use his cell phone. Later we leant that he is intentionally being held captive.

They are not terrorists, they are just like Paul, the provider of the family, and somehow their jobs are taken away by foreign employ. It is clear what they want is money. Otherwise, they would not go down to this path, holding people hostage asking for ransom. We could only guess they had been mistreated and they wanted to be heard. That’s why they are asking Paul to make videos and making it public.

On the other side, Paul is asked to stay focus not to make any irrational moves like making the video. Trying every possible way to find help. At the end, he received a phone call by his contractor telling him his contract has been terminated due to some reason, through which the contractor will hold no responsibility of Paul’s situation and even if he is dead, the insurance company will not need to pay a dime for his lost. How irresponsible!

Given a cell phone, seems a wonderful idea of getting help. The truth is the endless call waitings, atrocious reception, and insane voice mails make it impossible to get through. Communication nowadays should bring convenience not complication.

We tell lies to comfort people. To avoid the inevitable - let them lose hope. People will sacrifice themselves in order to live. However, not every dream comes true with the sacrifice made. The only thing you could do is keeping your finger crossed.

It is really hard to make a good movie in such quality with this limited budget. Let alone only one actor is hire for the movie. The movie draws your attentions by music, lighting and the actor. You couldn’t rely on anything more but the thrilling plot and the cinematograph.

The intensity comes from idea of being jailed in a limited movement environment together with the darkness. The director Rodrigo Cortés is definitely trying to infect us with claustrophobia. And giving Ryan Reynolds a chance to prove he is worth more than a vase.

Vampire – Iwai Shunji

This is not a typical vampire story or I will say it is not even a vampire story at all.

Inside an abandon factory, on top of a commercial use fridge lies a delicate girl. She spreads her arms and legs getting ready to get drained and leave her life behind. On the other hand a nerdy man setting four empty glass bottles on the four corners of the fridge, getting ready to poke needles in the girl’s limbs and empty her blood.

The story never actually reveals the true identity of the protagonist if you insist this is a vampire flick then you have to accept the fact that vampire in this story doesn't have supernatural power as we have learnt from times. He has to lull his suicidal victims to alter their ways and technically drain their blood by using needles and drink it from the bottle.

Simon (Kevin Zegers Damien from Gossip Girl), the protagonist, looks for his pray in a chartroom called "Side by Side" where people will find companies to commit suicide with. He looks into the vulnerabilities of human to minimize his guilt of sucking others blood. There is no denying that in either way he is murderer. What he did is evil, monstrous and unforgivable.

But yet the mood of the movie is not consistently dark and unbearable. While the evil bloodsucker is talking people in giving their blood, he is being annoyed by a psychopath/desperate woman, Laura (Rachael Leigh Cook). How she always appears in Simon’s home and cooks dinner for him without any invitation. The appearance of Laura lightens the heaviness of the movie and brings a contrast with Simon. One appears to be having psychological issue and the other is killing people to survive. Who’s worse?

I love how Iwai Shunji cleverly and carefully let the audience ponder what is really happening. To my acknowledgements, there are so many little details hinting that the protagonist himself is not really a vampire. And it would be much more meaningful if he isn’t one.

To what extent you are willing to sacrifice yourself to improvise your dreams? Would you kill yourself or kill others to live up your dreams? Not only Simon desperately wants to be a vampire, but also Laura, how she fools her into believing she is dating Simon. Even the Japanese student Mina (Aoi Yu) is seeking for attention by killing herself. The bottom line is do you have a bottom line.

It’s amusing how Iwai Shunji Japanese styled sound tracks work so well with a western movie. That's a plus and not to mention for his breathtaking cinematography.

When I walked out the cinema I thought it was just so so, and it's nothing about vampire. But it lingered for days, even when I was watching other movies, scenes popped up in my mind constantly. Till then I realized the movie is hitting me hard with an impact. Good movies should have the power to last in one’s mind and affect them without them noticing. And Vampire does that to me.

Kaboom – Gregg Araki

I have to say this is one of the best movies I have ever seen! Alright, the ending might have gone a little bit too far, but who cares? Don’t take it too serious, that’s what the whole movie is about! We are so uptight. It’s a wake up call for those who are working 9-5, all so routine-ish, to let loose. Enjoy the ride and have some fun! Like you were young!

At the end the lead Smith (Thomas Dekker) might be just still hallucinating after eating that cracked cookie at the party. Either way, it both works for me, no matter it is really a ridiculous sci-fi or a “teenage dream”, I still enjoyed this whole experience.

“You are the chosen SON.”

One thing for sure, teens are a bit paranoid. I’m not talking about how Smith was all over the missing red hair girl but his best friend Stella (Haley Bennett). I just love how the movie lightly penetrate the idea of people not only adolescents love to exaggerate things in their lives. It sarcastically made her girlfriend Lorelei a witch! That’s intriguing. How obsessive teens are with the whole paranormal genre. I love the scene which Stella breaks up with Lorelei and Lorelei is on her kneels crying, stuff flying around the room and the wind is coming from everywhere. One more thing, people tend not to have the nerve to strike up a conversation but they do dare to scream at you. How amusing!

“If A fucked B, B fucked C, it’s like A fucked C.”

How causal sex is for teens nowadays! Even with your roommate sleeping just right next to your bed? Seriously? Though, I found the “surprise” London (Juno Temple) dropped to Smith pretty inviting! You can pick up somebody at a bar, at a beach, or at lunch?! And there is no mind playing just cut to the trace and ask, “Do you want to fuck anyway?”

“Straight guys are gayer than the gay guys, the fact they are in love but can’t suck each other dicks, makes them queerer than Clay Aiken.”

I don’t know whether all gays like to fancy straight guys are gay, but if I were Smith I would think Thor his roommate is gay too!! There is no way straight guys would wrestle in their underwear, have their flip-flops ordered by colour and want to give themselves a blowjob? We are really living in a super-confusing world! So stop stereotyping!

This is not a ridiculous movie, it has little of everything, comedy, thriller, drama, sci-fi, action (if you know what I mean). Haven’t laughed so hard for so long! And it remains me to just constantly checking whether I’m in the “up-tight mood” or not. Just breathe and relax.

KAZAKY

The web sensation Ukrainian boy band Kazaky is taking the world by storm. Their debut single “In the middle”, generated 1.7 million hits on youtube to date, and their second single “Love” received similar attention!

In both videos the four members (Oleh 30, Arthur 26, Cyril 21 and Stas 20) dressed in tights and put on their chic black stilettos and shirtless most of the time showing off their “ablious” body, dancing. Oleh the leader was the top 20 in a dancing reality show in Ukraine, also the chorographer of the act. Arthur is an American and a ballerina. Can’t find much about Cyril and Stas. it doesn't really matters anyway, course they are all damn SEXY!!!

They instantly become my LOVE!!

Does it matter what their lyrics about? NA!!! It’s about the Dance and their body!! it's strange that they didn't make the whole thing drag or gay, it was "wow" jaw dropped, "Hot" eye popped and "SEXY".........

here are some making of of their latest video Love :

Enjoy the sensational experience now!!!!!! Some more eye CANDIES!!!!!! Their Debut "in the middle" wanna own their musics?? http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/in-the-middle/id428828336

Room in Rome – Julio Medem

A night in an unfamiliar but exotic place, your anxiety gets the best of you and your life is not doing so good to you. You have every reason to go wild, to be the one you always wanted to be. And finally you got someone with you to your room which embarks a series of exploring and self denying and your darkest moment.

Alba (Elena Anaya) travelling to Rome for a business trip met Natasha (Natasha Yarovenko) who is enjoying her nuptial vocation from her identical twin sister. First from causal sex then unleash an unexpected bond. The more impossible their fast bonding is the more fragile and insecure they are, how desperate they needed to put down their burden.

Meeting someone new is always intriguing, it is only viable when there is an underlying potential in developing a relationship. The little mind games, the leads were playing were adorable - fake names, backgrounds, and identities. A night your words hold no responsibility, a night you could be who ever you like to be.

There is no denying that stranger is the most difficult/the easiest to share things with. It could be embarrassing telling a stranger super personal stuff, on the other hand, it has no string attached, especially with those one night stands, there is a limited chance in bumping into them in your life again, even if you do, he/she might not even remember they had met you before.

There is only one setting in the movie, the hotel room, which was decorated with ancient paintings. Credit has to be given to Medem, how he linked those decors to the two leads, the little details of the painting, the history background. And the most significant one is the cupid, it symbolised few things, one their past/present situations, two, the cupid arrow is pointing down at them from the ceiling which literally referring the two of them bonding, and last the inseparable feeling caused by the cupid.

The movie would not have worked if it had depicted a pair of gay homosexual or a pair of heterosexual. Whenever sexual content is featured and once men come to the picture, it could easily become “pornish”, or irrelevant or stolen the attention of the message. The way the direct portrait their sexual experience is beautifully orientalised. The slow motions make you admire the artistic side of the sexual content.

Despite 90% of the flick contains nudity, it did not take away the light from the movie. Lust is just one of the element of our life, and communications is another. How Medem stresses both of them is enlightening, and the vulnerability of human is well depicted. How we handle our life.

This is a sexy, lustful, mind provoking experience. The lesbian sensation is hot!

Last Night – Massy Tadjedin

Joanna (Keira Knightley) suspects her husband Michael (Sam Worthington) is into his colleague Laura (Eva Mendes) and while the two of them went to a business trip together, Alex (Guillaume Canet) Joanna’s ex was in town for work. A night unfolds temptation, curiosity and suspense. How certain are you, this is not going to be your last night of your former life?

“It’s natural people have curiosity.” Joanna said.

The struggles of the married couple are thrilling to watch. “Did we marry too early?” Jo asked after an argument about Michael never did mention his stunning colleague Laura to her. “No, it only gets better.” Michael replied. Who would dare to say yes.

“Remind me why it didn’t work?” Alex asked

The relationship between Joanna and Alex is much more complex than the other. Obviously they both love each other, the problem is Jo is married. They met when Jo and Michael were in between of their relationship. They both write, sharing the same passion made them bond faster and deeper.

“If he were here, I would still be attracted to you.” Laura said.

What Laura wants is obvious it just down to what Michael is willing to break. How Laura keeps inviting Michael to non-drinking, asking sensitive questions, we know Laura is disparate. It’s sarcastic that she keeps stressing she would be faithful to her late boyfriend but her actions are telling the opposite.

“Why didn’t you tell your husband about Alex?”

Do we need an answer here? There are certain past that we could never get over with, especially those who you are deeply in love and there is never a chance that you guys could be together, would you tell your love that you think of someone else when you doubt the relationship you are having now?

This happens around us all the time. Every step you take leads to a different end. But are you willing to take a risk?

The King’s Speech – Tom Hooper

People like to see how royals, celebrities, superheroes fall. That makes them relatable. This is how the Marvel once again thriving the comic industry. Because we learnt that heroes are just like one of us, they are also weak and vulnerable. This is what The King’s speech made us feel. Even the King was vulnerable too, trembling with his own feet.

The Price Albert/ Duke of York (later the King George VI played by Colin Firth) had always been struggling with stammer. After an embarrassing moment at a public speech, his wife, Queen Elizabeth (Helena Bonham) set out to find a cure for her future king and ended up to an unconventional therapist Lionel Longue (Geoffrey Rush).

He was the second son of King George V, he was never suppose to be the next heir. Due to his brother gave up his throne for marrying a divorced woman. He had to work much harder to cure his stammer. He quit for a few times but it was not his call anymore.

“Because I have a voice.” George VI Shouted at Lionel Longue when he was sitting in the Royal Chair and refused to get off. People tended to make fun him just because he always stumbled on his on words, even his father King George V. When we see his reddish face inhale and exhale heavily, we know he wanted to make a difference, wanted others to see him as the way he look at his father.

Despite all the struggles, the movie could still be able to portrait with wit. When the king trembled with his words how he added muted “Sh*T, Fu*k” in between his speech, was delighting to watch. He is trying hard. No one would deny that.

What so captivating about this movie? Colin Firth as King George VI is mesmerising. The historical story itself was just only a typical story line for cinema. However, the performance of Firth brought the movie to a whole different level. Last year when I saw the Single Man, I was already aware of Firth’s acting could elevate the story. And The King’s Speech just proved me right.

This is the third biopic nomination of this year Oscars, and the winner of Best Picture, best Director, Best actor and best original screenplay.

The Fighter – David O. Russell

An authentic fraternal boxers story which is more than just about fighting. Family, brotherhood, self-reassurance, drags, glory and that are life, and life is full of pretty much everything. I believe there is not a single movie which merely focusing on one theme, but how to make it coherent, relevant and heartfelt is hard. And The Fighter just nails it.

The story is a biopic based on the 90s former WBU Light Welterweight Campion.

Micky Ward (Mark Wahlberg) was living in the shadow of his half brother Dicky Eklund (Christian Bale) who was a former Welterweight Champion. The story is expectable, they rise they fall and they get back up. But what make it different from the others in the same genre? This family must come together, dominant Mother, understanding father, cracked Dicky, confused Micky, and 7 crazy sisters. The genuine dynamics of the family light up the story. The way their family struggles to stay united, moves the audience from the heartbeat.

Family can be the poison and the remedy at the same time. Micky would have a total different career if he had gone away to get trained in Vegas. His mother/his manager always putting pressure on him, telling him that he should not trust anyone beyond his family, which resulted Dicky was Micky’s trainer who often showed up late wasted. Micky got hold back by his family. Dicky got back on his feet when he noticed he was dragging his brother down, it motivated him to get clean and be the brother/trainer he had to be.

How to stand up from the mistake you have made? From the start of the movie we all acknowledge Dicky was a junkie, by his hollow eyes and his skinny figure. The irony was Dicky kept boasting that HBO was making a film on him, the truth was they were making a documentary on the downside of drags “High on Crack Street: Lost Lives In Lowell”. He was too wasted to notice anything wrong, not until he was soba watching it together with all the inmates. And there was the magic moment, he suddenly woke up from the dark. People are horrified to notice or face their own flaws, once they fall hard, real hard, then they will understand. There is no talking sense into them, we only have to wait and give them our hands when they are willingly to take them.

Bale, he once again dropped tremendous weight for playing a role, yet this time he was not as skeletal as his role in the “Machinist”. The determination and compelling performance just take your breath away. And it earns him the award for the best supporting male actor in the Oscar and the Globe. Melissa Leo also won best supporting female actress in the Oscar, which make this is the first movie to win both supporting actor and actress since 1986.

The effort of the casts is noticeable, Bale, Leo, Adam and even Wahlbery had been preparing to get into the shape of the real Micky for four years having his PT along with him on set in everything single movie he had made in the past four years.

This is inspiring, not only because the authenticity of the story itself but also the determination of the whole crew.

Blue Valentine – Derek Cianfrance

“You’ve promised me.” Dean (Ryan Gosling) said in despair. Cindy (Michelle Williams) shifted her body towards the cupboard. Inhaled deeply covering her tearful eyes. In a split second we were taken back to the day, which they got married. Tears were also running down their faces. The instant comparison reveals the reality of life – blue is the new word for love.

Blue Valentine depicts the fading sparks of a couple. 6 years of marriage could be a blink, or a lifetime. Dean was brought up in a broken family, his only wish was to love and provide his family unconditionally. On the other hand, Cindy was living with grumpy parents. She never wanted her family to be anything like her parents’. She kept putting effort in her marriage. Nevertheless, it soon became a burden.

“Think of Frankie (their daughter).” Dean urged. “I did!” Cindy relied. “No. You didn’t” Dean lowered his head covering it with his arms. Brought up in single-parent family is not uncommon in today’s society. And it has become less and less important in holding a family together. Living in the shadow of a broken family, Dean eagerly wanted to fix everything. It was not only his call, though. Dean married Cindy because of Frankie, who was not genuinely his. His love for her is greater than who the kid is related to. He dared to take the responsibility, which was not even his. And it’s only because of one word – Love.

“Do you wanna have a baby with me?” Dean asked Cindy when they were in a motel. In which he just wanted to have a good with his wife. Some people may be content with their life devoted to their family, some may want something bigger a career, a passion, or anything that can make them feel good. One point to another, people grow, they won’t stay in one place forever, and it’s a matter of time who’s going walk faster than the other. In this case Cindy did. She wanted to be doctor, she ended up being a nurse because of Frankie. She just has a bigger, greater vision than Dean. She’s got no one to blame but herself.

What I like about the movie is the bona-fide of relationships. Couples fight because their dream is different from the other. They fight because they are not confident enough to walk through live together. They fight because their sparks has gone. They fight because they have grown apart. However, none of these could cost a relationship. What really costs them their marriage is one of them has given up.

The subtleness of the movie makes you ponder your own life. What are you running after? What is enough? Gosling nailed his part flawlessly, while Williams had to keep up her pace to Gosling’s. To be honest it could spend more coverage on their daily life than sex. What really triggers Cindy to make the decision. Overall, it is a good experience watching it.

The Kids are All Right – Lisa Cholodenko

18 years, you have been living in a lesbian family, always known you and your brother came from the same sperm donor but a different mother. There must be a certain kind of curiosity about what the donor would be like. Unlike "Queer as fork" the mothers knew the donor; apart from that they are pretty much alike - a lesbian family bearing kid(s) having family of their own.

There are movies about gay couples starting their own family, how they struggle this and that, but not problems when the kids are grown. Recently, I have been reading and watching a lot of family dramas and movies, there is one, which makes me stop and ponder the possibility of having a family on my own - Ricky Martin's memoir “ME”. I have always acknowledged about the concept of surrogacy but it never sounded real to me until Ricky Martin announced his adorable twin.

I reckon this could be easier for lesbian family as they don't have to go through the whole surrogacy process, however, choosing the right donor and bearing the baby could be more plaintive than picking a surrogate and the donor. I'm not sure whether this is an advantage or not (for homosexuals), when have you decided to have kids, you could also decide the color of their skin, eyes, hair... Etc. Of course the cost would be a lot more extravagant. Morally, people are still questioning the vices and virtues of this issue. But this seems to be the only option for the gay family to have their own family (blood related family).

Who is my father? Or mother? Would be frequently asked in many LGBT families, if they are even adopting a kid. I was bought up in a single parent family with an absent father. Would see my birth mother once in a while. There is never a minute in my life I questioned the involvement of my parents. However, deep down I wished I had family like other normal kids. There must be similarity in those homosexual families, not that having two dads or mums are not enough, it is just sheer curiosity that everyone is having both mum and dad in lieu of the alternative. In this case they are looking for their dad. What would he be like? Bonds forged not only between the kids and the donor, but also one of the mothers in the movie.

The movie could have taken the other direction, resentful and all. The humor used in the movie made it more approachable, I could still hear people in the cinema giving awful comments or long exhalation when the leads are kissing. No matter how fast changing our world is now, there are still plenty of people out there don't approve nor understand us. I may even say some of us don't have any clue of having a gay family, how it is like. Watching this kind of movies is somehow assuring. Telling us it is just the same as the others. We argue, we fight, we make mistakes, we forgive, we love, and most importantly we care. We have to have the courage not only embracing ourselves but also embracing our loved ones false.

As well as enjoying the dynamics of the family there are still loads to ponder afterwards. When is my time to start mine?

The film won the Golden Glove Award for Best Motion Picture and Best Actress - Annette Benning.

My Favourite Albums – 2010

My Favourite Albums – 2010

The only criterion of being on this list is, album that I have been looping through out the year. (Randomly Ordered)

1. The XX – XX

A London Based band, members consist of Romy Madley Croft, Oliver Sim and Jamie Smith). “XX” was their debut album released in late 2009. “XX” reached highest peak at #3 in the UK. Ever since I bought their album, I can’t stop myself from listening to their songs.

2. Scissor Sisters – Night Work

American band formed in 2001, “Night Work” is their third studio album. I thought their second album was the greatest thing on earth, but “Night Work” just kicked it out of its throne.

3. Empire of the Sun – Walking on a Dream
Australian electronic band, they sound similar to MGMT. But yet excites me with every single track. “Empire of the Sun” is their debut album released in 2008.

4. Lady Gaga – The Fame Monster
Not much introduction needed, one thing you may not know is Telephone was first written for Brittney Spears, later Spears was asked to feature the song rather than having the song. Due to unacceptable terms from Spears, Gaga found herself a replacement - Beyonce.

5. Franz Ferdinand – Tonight: Franz Ferdinand
A rock band from Scotland, Tonight: Franz Ferdinand is their third studio album released in 2009. The band announced in Feb 2010 that they are working on their forth album.

6. The Kooks – Konk
English indie band, my all time favourite, have been listening to them since the album was released in 2008. Can’t wait to hear their third album which announced in the marking in 2009.

7. Local Natives – Gorilla Manor
An indie rock band based in Silver Lake LA, have their debut album released in the UK in late 2009. Which is the one I keep listening this year.

8. The Gossip – Music for Man
American indie rock band, Beth Ditto is such a diva, listening to her voice could make you melt! Most of the people like me knew them this year. But they are super active in the indie world, “Music for Man” was already their forth studio album which lead them to wider audience.

9. Hurts – Happiness
An English synthpop duo, started being active in 2009 and “Happiness” is their debut, which brought them a huge success in the European market. Even Kylie Minogue featured a song in their album.

10. Vampire Weekend – Contra
American indie rock band, this is their second studio album. The band faced lawsuit due to using an old picture of Ann Kirsten Kennis who was a former top model, claimed the band used the photo without her consent. Despite all that the album is incredible.