picture from http://runawayjuno.com/2012/03/15/runaway-movie-midnight-in-paris/
I have a lot of favourite movies but Midnight in Paris is one of the few that I totally TOTALLY fell in love with and that stayed in my mind for weeks after.
Midnight in Paris is a story about Gil, a Hollywood writer who loves the 1920 golden age of Paris and loves to move to Paris. One midnight, when he is walking in the street of Paris during his holdiay, an old car stops and the passengers invite him to go to a party which he later on realizes that he is back in the 1920's, where he meets his favourite writers, musician, artist and other famous names, such as Ernest Hemingway, Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald, Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali, T.S. Eliot, etc . He also meets the beautiful Marion Cotillard whom I adore very much. I love everything about Marion Cotillard, the way she talks, the way she smiles, her past movies, etc. LoL DONT GET ME STARTED. When Gil sees that Adriana (Marion) loves and wants to live at another era (The Belle Epoque which she sees as the real golden era of Paris), Gil realizes that no period is ideal and he, in the end, grows to appreciate the present era and intends to live there.
I feel the magic of a great special film throughout. There is a part when Gil gives a man at the party named Bunuel an idea for his next movie: A group of guests sit down to dinner and after the meal is over, they mysteriously find themselves unable to leave the house. "But why?" Bunuel asks. "They just can't" Gil explains. Bunuel says it doesn't make any sense. Gil asks him to just think about the idea.
I wasn't familiar with Bunuel at the time I was watching so I googled him afterwards and found that he (Luis Bunuel) wrote and directed one of the best Mexican film and the story is about a group of dinner party guests who is unable to leave the house the next morning. So, in Midnight in Paris Gil must have seen the movie and when he meets Bunuel at that era/year he cheekily gives him that idea :)
Midnight in Paris shows the best of Paris, the arguably most romantic city, present and past day, day and night, sunshine and rain. The music is gorgeous! ('Cole Porter' sings 'Let's do it. Let's fall in love' which is one of my fav song of all time). This movie has everything, It has comedy, fantasy, romance, adventure! all the iconic names and figures make it abit classic and art-sy. Totally different from any movies I've seen ever. It is so deep, yet so light. It is beautiful, memorable, unique, charming and magical.
Roger Ebert (Chicago Sun-Times) described it as 'a daydream for American lit major'.
Peter Travers (Rolling Stone) wrote 'Allen used a camera to make such urgent, passionate love to a city'.
I love Woody Allen movies. I always love his smart scripts and his sweet stories. His movies don't always appeal to everyone, isn't for everyone and don't have over the top perfect ending, but personally, I love them. It feels personal in a way.
As Roger Ebert said 'Either you connect with it or not. I'm wearying of movies that are for 'everybody' - which means, nobody in particular. 'Midnight in Paris' is for me, in particular, and that's just fine with moi'.
Like books, I love movies that I can connect with, and it doesn't necessarily have to have storylines that I can relate to. It's more of the way the movies are made.
In Midnight in Paris, there is a scene in which Gil comes out from a bookstore in Paris. The bookstore is the famous and iconic Shakespeare and Company. I found this clip and I totally fell in love with the bookstore :)
"The magic of being in an independent bookshop like here...and the other world that it opens up to you, and the invitation to just live and breath imagination, is extraordinary..."
After seeing Cole Porter singing Let's fall in love in Midnight in Paris, I re-watched De-Lovely in DVD. I first saw De-Lovely in the cinema about 6-7 years ago when it just came out. De-Lovely is a musical biopic based on the life and career of Cole Porter, his amazing musical works and his troubled relationship with his wife. She is his muse and the love of his life and yet he had affairs everywhere, as he said, "I wanted every kind of love that was available, but I could never find them in the same person or the same sex."
She knew and understood, she let him have his freedom and accepted him as he was. It was hard for her, and this is one of their last scene together before she passed away. It is so touching >_< and the song is sooo beautiful.
"Everyday of our lives we are on the verge of making those slight changes that would make all the difference."
"The trouble is, you think you have time", --Buddha
"Looking back, I have this to regret, that too often when I loved, I did not say so."
This is another beautiful song from Cole Porter which I love so muchhhhh.
So please be sweet, my chickadee
And when I kiss ya, just say to me
"It's delightful, it's delicious, it's delectable, it's delirious.
It's dilemma, it's de limit, it's deluxe, it's de-lovely"...
I love foreign movies. These are 16 of my very favourites in no particular order. They are all amazing in their unique, different ways. They are all from different genres, Most are French, but there are also others from other countries. I repost this old post because I add 10 more movies. Please share with me your favourite foreign movies. x
1. Downfall (German)
This movie tells the story of the final days and downfall of Hitler. The duration is quite long but it is so intense from beginning to finish. This movie (to me) is the best made movie ever. and the most perfect. I'm not into war movies but this is just have to be seen to be believed.
Awards = 15 wins and 13 nominations (including nominated for best foreign movie 2005 academy awards)
2. Les Choristes (France)
This movie tells a story of a school teacher (and musician) and his modest ambition of having the school choir to sing his song and his modest ambition to teach music. It is the most touching and endearing movie and the music is just the most haunting and beautiful.
There are also some very funny and charming moments. But everyone who watch this movie will cry at the end. One word to sum up this movie 'magical'.
Awards = 11 wins and 21 nominations (including nominated for best foreign movie & best music 2005 academy awards)
3. Head on (Turkey)
This movie tells a love story between two very different people, 40 year old man and a 20 year old girl who are from different cultural background and met in a psychiatric facility after both trying to kill themselves. Watching this movie is like a rollercoster emotional journey, there are very real romantic moments, and there are the most tragic bitter moments. The characters are very complex and emotional and the actings from both lead actor/actress are just the most amazing. The ending is sad :( but the love is beautiful. This is my personal fav movie :)
Awards = 23 wins and 11 nominations (including won best film in 2004 European Film Awards)
4.Priceless (France)
I've probably watched this movie way more than I should. A real feel-good movie. The most charming movie. Probably not everyone would agree because this is not the typical hollywood romantic comedy. Girl meet boy. Get married. No. The girl here is a gold digger. Played by my fav actress Audrey Tatou. First of all, i dont think anyone speaks charm more than Audrey Tatou. And the most amazing thing about her is she is not the sexiest or the most beautiful star (like Penelope Cruz or Marilyn Monroe). But she has a very unique face, combined with a very extraordinary acting. She is just so special and she made very good choices with movies. I love all her movies.
Awards - 1 win and 1 nomination
5. Amelie (France)
Every minute of this movie is pure genius. We see the ordinary world through the eyes of Amelie and she makes everything much more extraordinary. Amelie, with her own sense of justice decided to help those around her. And punish those who are bad. For 20 years the director Jean-Pierre Jeunet collected small astonishing and intriguing moments in his life, taking notes in his diary. The things in this movie are quite an everyday thing, but watching it, the way it is made, directed and acted are so magical and such a total escapism. Its like entering another world. A lot of people say that this movie is a masterpiece. I can't be more agree.
Awards = 51 wins and 46 nominations ( including 5 oscar nominations)
6. The diving bell and the butterfly (France/USA)
This is a true story of Elle France editor, Jean-Dominique Bauby, who in 1995 ( age 43) suffered a stroke that paralysed his entire body except his left eye. He then made his memoir using that left eye by blinking to communicate every single alphabet for every words in his books. Yes every single word! This is a very remarkable story told and shot from Jean-Dominique's body (you see the world as he views) making watching it just even more real and heartfelt (especially the sealing of his eye part). The way this movie is made really can't be any more beautiful and the audiences also experience some truly funny moment in alot of scenes. Also feeling Jean-Do's sorrow trapped like the diving bell while his imagination and the gorgeous cinematography make you feel like a butterfly. An amazing inspiring movie.
Awards = 41 wins and 33 nominations (nominated for 4 oscars)
7. He loves me He loves me not (France)
Another brilliant movie starring Audrey Tatou. I love French thriller. It is so tastefully done. This movie is about a crazy love. And who does love film better than the French? This film has a surprise for you. You just got to watch it. I won't spoil it for you!
Awards = 2 nominations
8. Caramel (Arabic)
This movie is a story of the friendship of 6 women in Beirut, whom 4 of them work in a beauty salon. What happens when they get together, gossip and talk about life and love happiness and problems. This movie is beautiful in its simple, modest way. It is enchanting and charming. You can't help but falling in love with all the women and their characters. The movie has this warm, watchable enjoyable feeling and yet it touch you and move you deeply. The fact that 2 of the main characters never acted before and this is the director's debut film, just amazed me even more. I can't help but fell in love with this film.
Awards : 4 wins and 5 nominations
9. Maria full of Grace (Colombia)
This movie is about a young pregnant 17 y o Colombian who becomes a drug mule to make some desperately needed money for her family. She comes to America by swallowing 62 pellets of cocaine in her stomach. In America, problems happen but in the end she decided to stay in America to be able to give a better life for her child.
Maria has such a high human spirit which is so touching. You can feel her nerve, fear, lost and hope. What is also amazing is the fact that this is a Colombian movie which is written/directed by an American and it is low budget. That simplicity makes it so believable and real. It touches such a sensitive subject, and it succeeds.
Catalina Sandino Moreno who played Maria is brilliant and was nominated for best actress at the Academy Awards.
Awards = 30 wins & 22 nominations (nominated for 4 Oscars, win Audience Award at Sundance Film Festival)
10. In the mood for love & 2046
Wong Kar Wai is my most favourite movie director. I've seen all his movies that I can get access to. His movies are the types of movies that I feel strongly connect to & that I can so feel and relate to. It's funny because his movies are a bit of 'in its own world', even fantasy-like. It's very hard to describe my feeling, I feel like those things in his movies are the stuff that are in my dreams & imagination & fantasy the whole time. I get this dejavu whenever I watch his films, its like it's tailored-made for me. Strange.
In a whole, maybe also because his movies are lush and visually gorgeous. He can always capture the romance and passion beautifully (or sad at times, or both at the same time), the storyline is simple, yet made rich, it often doesn't have a proper ending (which I can make my own ending the way I imagine it). Not all movies can get away with that, but his movies are so special and intimate, you kind of know how it is going to continue. Always beautifully sounded, the tracks are softly played but the melody is gorgeous. His movies are the sorts of movies that you remember long after you see it.
Awards : In the mood for love (31 wins and 23 nominations), 2046 (22 wins and 30 nominations)
In the mood for love was awarded 'Best Foreign Film' in the 2001 France Cesar Awards & 2001 German Film Awards and 'Screen International Award' in the 2000 European Film Awards, and 2046 was awarded 'Screen International Award' in the 2004 European Film Awards. Wong Kar Wai was awarded 'Best Director' for his other movie 'Happy Together' at the 1997 Cannes Film Festival.
Wong Kar Wai's first full English feature film "My blueberry nights" opened the 2007 Cannes Film Festival, starring Norah Jones, Rachel Weisz, Natalie Portman and Jude Law.
11. L'appartement (France)
L'appartement is an elegant romantic thriller with its brilliant plot. It will absorb you from the start, and keep you guessing and feeling suprised and amazed until the very end. This movie starred the beautiful Monica Belluci and the French superstar Vincent Cassel. This is the first French movie that I've ever seen (long time ago) and I've forgotten the plot now but I still remember how brilliant it is, at the same time beautiful and sophisticated (How does the French does it?). I was in awe for a few days. The movie was out in 1996 and until now, people hasn't forgotten about it. It is that 'classic'. The American remade this movie (Wicker Park, starring Josh Hartnett and Rose Byrne) and of course this original version is the one you should watch first.
Awards = 2 wins & 1 nomination (win BAFTA Awards for best foreign movie)
12. Spanish Apartment (France)
I've lived in foreign countries away from my parents since I was 12. And since then, I've shared apartments/houses/rooms with so many different types of individuals. That is why I love this movie so much. It's about a few people from different countries and characters who live in one apartment. Not often you get to see a movie with a few different languages in it. This movie is also a very delightful comedy which you will remember for a long time. It shows friendship, some happy or crazy moments when you are young. And it is so funny! (My favourite actress Audrey Tatou was in it too).
Awards = 8 wins and 8 nominations. (It also won Audience Award in 2003 Sydney Film Festival and 2003 Brisbane Film Festival)
13. The class (France)
Some movies evoke my emotion. Alot of movies of course make me sad or happy. But only a rare few can make me angry. This movie does it. This is the story of Francois Begaudeau (whom he played himself), who also wrote the book upon which this movie is based on. He is a junior school teacher in France, where the students are multi-cultural and come from middle working family. It gives us insights on how frustrating and hard it is to teach children. And we cant really hate the children because they are children. It shows what happen beneath that classroom wall. Back when I was in junior school, we listened to whatever the teachers said, but in this movie, it is more of a two-way communication classroom. Students listen to teachers and vice versa. Some of what the students said are quite interesting!!
This movie doesn't really feel like a movie, it's like half a movie half a documentary. It feels really real. It's outstanding.
Awards = 9 wins and 14 nominations (including the coveted Cannes Palme D'or 2008 and Academy Award nominations for best foreign movie 2009)
(This video doesn't really show how outsatanding this movie is)
14. The white haired bride 1 & 2
Visually gorgeous, beautifully acted. Brigitte Lin is one of the most beautiful and one of the most gifted Chinese actress. She plays the betrayed lover and you can feel her love and betrayed emotion. This is truly one of the most visually breathtaking movie I've ever seen. And I was so happy that the sequel is as good as the original.
15. City of God (Brazil)
Whenever I see people/ movie critics's top 10 best/ favourite foreign films, this movie is always included. This is a very powerful and heart wrenching movie that shows a true story of crime and horrifying violence in Rio de Janeiro. The editing is probably one of the best editing I've ever seen in a movie. You are always in the edge of your seat, and this is not some horror fiction, this is real. Real people whose life are so wasted in fights and gangs and die too easy. This movie is such an eye opener.
Awards = 55 wins and 25 nominations (nominated for 4 oscars)
16. La Vie en Rose (France)
"Her voice is the soul of Paris". This is the true story of Edith Piaf, a French singer who has one of the most beautiful voice EVER! Beautiful is almost an understatement, her voice is one of a kind, special, unique, it is overloaded with heart and soul. It has so much depth and feeling that you can feel her passion, even though you don't see her sing. Marion Cotillard performance in this movie is magnificent, I dont think anyone can play Edith Piaf better than her. Her acting is stunning and the makeup is unreal too(Oscar win for make-up) Marion transformed from this beautiful actress to this very believable old woman. The love story is very touching. I haven't feel moved by a love story like this one for a very long time. And I love the French setting in that older era. It is so french :)
The Oscar winning performance of Marion, combined with the colourful passionate true story of Edith Piaf (and combined with the most beautiful soundtrack) make this movie one of its kind. It is just special.
Awards : 29 wins and 33 nominations (win 2 Oscars including best actress to the very deserving Marion Cotillard)
I love these bookshelves pictures. Most of them are from www.bookshelfporn.com and a few are from www.community.livejournal.com There are many more great pictures from those websites, but these are my favourites. Sorry I couldn't provide most of the pictures' descriptions :( x
Interior of the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County “Old Main” Building, photographer unknown, 1874. In 1874 the Public Library of Cincinnati took possession of a small building intended to be an opera house. According to John Fleishman, “the parcel at 629 Vine Street was transformed in two stages into a library building that startled America with its cutting edge design. Its vast Main Hall featured five tiers of cast-iron book alcoves that could house over 200,000 volumes.”
Door leading to a room filled with books!!
Desk made out of books from the architecture library at Delft University of Technology.
Book building of the day. As part of a local children's bookfair, Slovakian artist Matej Kren was invited by the Museum of Modern Art in Bologna to install a massive fortress composed of thousands upon thousands of books.
Which one is your favourite? (Now I feel like buying more books!!) :) x
WoW This show really changes my dating regime. This show is about the millionaire club, a matchmaking agency whom only millionaires and billionaires can join in (and have to pay expensive fees)and they will be matched with the girl of their dream. The girls can join for free but they have to have beauty, brain and class and selection is strict. Patti, who is the owner and ceos of the millionaire's club really gives great advices and insight on women, men, dating and relationship. Some of her advice actually I've heard and read many times in magazine articles, etc, but the way Patti say it here (honest straighforward no-nonsense) is way more convincing. Such advice as 'only date a man who gives you saturday night, not monday night or tuesday night because he might spend the saturday night with someone else. Dont settle to be the second choice.' OR 'If the guy doesnt call a girl for too long(a week), if the girl is smart, she's moved on'. And many more. I think in the past i always want to be a cool girlfriend. The one who let the boyfriend to have a boys night out every saturday night. and if he disappear and doesnt call for a week, i would be fine, and would welcome him with an open hand and even bigger smile. Gasp. (I am trying to find an excuse now) (can't find any). Hmm. Let's talk about someone else now. In various episodes, you'll see the difference between a nice guy and a player/a jerk/or an arrogant player plus jerk. You'll also see the various girls, the smart independent ones (who moved on when the guy doesnt call) and the dumb one. You cant help but feeling irritated with the dumb one, although wait a second, i was just like them in many occasions.:) although in Patti's club, most of the women are not only beautiful, but also strong and smart, so they are kind of an example actually, in dating and what to do with a man who is not serious :)
2. The Amazing Race
Every season this never fails to wow me. The challenges are so interesting and culturally educational (is there such word?). my fav of course is this all star season, where contestants from different seasons compete against each other. How amazing is that?? I was so excited to see Rob and Amber competing again against Uchenna and Joyce. On season 7, Rob and Amber are clearly the smartest, the quickest and always team no 1 at almost every pittstop. Yet on the final episode, because Rob & Amber taxi driver somehow got lost, Uchenna and Joyce end up winning the final prize and become the champion. I always love Uchenna and Joyce because they are such a good-hearted couple, I remember that one time, when they give some of their money to one other contestants because that other contestants get stripped of all their cash as a punishment. isnt that kind? So however good and fast Rob and Amber are, but everything need a little bit of luck at the end, and I guess Uchenna and Joyce have more luck (maybe the prayers from other contestants?). I love season 7 because most other season's winners are sometimes selfish and cunning and for a change, i'm so happy when Uchenna and Joyce win. So at this all-star season, again Rob and Amber came first at the first three pitt stops, I actually think they are going to win this season, because they are clearly the smartest, the most efficient, the most competitive and the quickest team! but to everyone surprise, they dropped from top to bottom at the fourth pitt-stop and got eliminated. (maybe it got to do with Rob's on screen arrogance and Amber's lie to Charla & mirna)(and they also steal charla&mirna's cab). So they left and funnily, charla & mirna came from bottom to team no1 at the next pitt-stop. Anyway, I always want the old couples not to get eliminated (poor thing, they are old and still race against the young, i totally admire them) so i'm quite sad when Team Guido and Teri and Ian came last and got eliminated. But someone got to go, right?
3. Toddlers and tiaras
This show is about little girls entering beauty pageants. They wear fake hair, fake teeth, fake nails, fake tan, and fake eyelashes. They had their full make-up on, their nails are freshly manicured and pedicured. They wore the most sparkly beautiful little dresses. In this show, you'll see that some of the little girls cry while their parents clearly are more interested in the pageant themselves. some others are so spoilt and already have rude attitudes towards their parents. Yet there are a few rare little girls who are so well-behaved and so engrossed in the competition and so talented in the dancing and singing and walking and smiling and waving. They are the most adorable ones!!
I'm sure you'll say 'I'll never enter my kids to this kind of competition. EVER!!' Haha, me too, at first especially after watching how bitchy the parents are!(they are calling other children ugly in front of their kids! come on, no wonder the kids become rude and spoilt) but after watching those few (well-behaved, talented) girls makes me want to enter my future daughters into these kind of competition. yes, i understand that this show is about supporting physical beauty. And that inner beauty of a person is totally more important than physical beauty with fake this and fake that. But lets be honest in this world, if you are pretty, you are more likely to be noticed more, and if you can achieve both inner beauty and physical beauty, why not? of course entering your kids into this type of superficial competition is more about teaching them about sportmanship and just to have fun. when they get older, when they lookd back, they'll remember how cute they are and they'll laugh at how ridiculous the whole thing is! i'll only enter them if they are interested, im not going to force them if they are going to scream on stage. whats the point? and i think competition is good. medal makes you happy and losing makes you humble. my mom put me and my little sister in a few national costume competitions when i was in primary school. We had fun! It formed special bond between me, my mom and my sister because we did stuff together.
4. My other favs consist of cooking shows and dance shows, such So You Think You Can Dance, Dancing with the stars USA, Iron chef and Masterchef Australia.
So I have a lot. nowadays in fact the tv series are so better than most movies. And they are very addictive. as i always watch them in dvds, so when i have one season, i mostly finish them in one sitting or two.
These are some of my favourite. (from the most recent to the old favourites)
1. Hotel Babylon.
I always love hotels. I love the way it makes you feel like you are in a totally different world and you can be someone other than yourself for a while. It certainly holds many memories for me, good and bad. although mostly good.
and this show is amazing. it's posh, its like las vegas but the story is better. its part true events, part fiction. The stories of what happen behind close doors. the different types of guests, the various main hotel staffs. I am addicted.
2. The secret diary of a call girl.
The tv series is based on a bestselling novel, which the novel is based on the blogs of a real life London-based high class callgirl.
And Billie piper is so perfect as belle. The beautiful, witty, sexy, naughty belle. and the series is so mysterious, funny, charming, and slick. It is just the sexiest show in Tv.
3. Satisfaction
Satisfaction is an australian tv series about a group of women who are working at an upmarket brothel. its about their life and their friendship. The settings, the costume, and the dress are just gorgeous. The women, the stories are beautiful and touching. The sexual fantasy is interesting. This show are critically acclaimed in Australia and win/nominated in a few Tv awards(best drama, best actress). I love this show. Its amazing.
(The reason why I only post video for satisfaction is because other videos dont do the other series justice. This is the only good overall insight video.)
4. Damages
The stories, the way they twists and turns are genius. You just keep guessing and thinking and you wouldnt want to do anything else when you have this dvd. You'll watch it in one sitting and ignore all calls. or at least i did. Its so gripping and amaZing.
5. Mad Men
This show is so stylish and ohh i am so loving the old hollywood glamour feel. The women are so feminine with their long dresses, accessories, jewelleries and perfect hair-dos. The beautiful housewifes, the cheating husbands, the redhead sexy secretary and The clever adverstising slogans. I'm totally happy if i can just watch January Jones and Christina Hendricks getting dressed up all day long.
6. True blood
A tv series about vampire. Why am i feeling that this is the most romantic tv series ever? haha. i mean the idea of the story is so beautiful. and the way they produce it is out of this world. It is so fantasy-like, yet the way they portray the story is so real. and i feel that everything is so beautifully romantic. I personally love this, way more than Twilight.
7. Friends
What can I say about this one? The funniest thing ever! Ohhh I just adore them and i can really watch the show over and over again and still laugh!
8. Sex and the city
You actually learn alot from this! Not only the fashions are fantastic, but the show is educational, it is funny, it is entertaining, It gives grerat insights on sex, dating, and friendship. Its like a reading a self help manual but much more interesting with the drama, designer fashion, shoes, bags, and the New York background. I love New York....!
9. Gossip girl
Not only the casts are gorgeous in all their very different ways, the story line is very addictive. Its like a soap opera (with the beautiful casts) but with a great non-monotone story. Its about the upper east Manhattan elite circle friendship and drama. So of course the fashion is fantastic. The girls can best friends at one time and enemies soon after and back to friends again. The bitchiness and the competition among each other can be quite addictive. It's a good-quality guilty pleasure.
10. Greys anatomy
There are so many medical dramas in Tv. What makes grey anatomy so special is because -the cast is very strong, each cast has a big personality, big story and big acting. -the medical stories is very upto date and interesting, -i love the way meredith talks about life in the beginning and in the end of each episode. its like sexandthecity narrated. and it often involved very interesting and reflective words and quotes.
picture from http://runawayjuno.com/2012/03/15/runaway-movie-midnight-in-paris/
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