FILM: The Fighter by David O. Russell

I saw The Fighter by David O. Russell this past weekend after the fear that it won't be in theaters very long and boy I sure am glad I watched it! I knew that this movie was a must see for 2011, not just because Mark Wahlberg has the star role (I still remember the first time I saw him in person with @AnnaWHY at Bar Pitti *drool*) but because lately I learned to appreciate the sport of Boxing (because of Manny Pacquiao of course). 

So what is it about? It's about an Irish fighter named Micky Ward's (played by Wahlberg) struggle to achieve the light welterweight championship. He's torn between trying to pursue his dreams versus family loyalty. Worst of it all, Ward is overshadowed by the drama of his older brother / former boxer / slacker trainer turned crack addict, Dicky Ecklund. I was expecting this movie to be "average" but was swayed after Christian Bale's epic performance as Dicky Ecklund. Check out the picture above and see how much weight he lost for this role! Bale was very effective and his role was also emotionally moving. This movie is excellent for a "based on a true story" flick! The characters were all convincing and I give an honorable mention to Amy Adams who plays as Micky's girlfriend and Melissa Leo who plays as his mother. If it's still out the next few weeks, I highly suggest you see it! I'm kind of surprised it didn't do as well in box office sales because it definitely has all the elements that make an amazing film.

Check out the trailer below:

'Fighter' Theatrical Trailer @ Yahoo! Video

LINK: The Fighter Movie

FILM: Black Swan by Darren Aronofsky

Finally got to see Black Swan directed by Darren Aronofsky this weekend. All I can say is it's an amazing psychological thriller and is well worth seeing on the big screen. There was one thing I didn't like though- and it's the shaky hand-held camera movement the first ten minutes into the film. However, I understand why the director used this effective technique which added to the anxiety and suspense of what's to expect next. The intense hair-raising scenes along with great acting from actors Portman and Kunis definitely makes this movie a must see before the year ends! I don't want to spoil the movie, so check out the HD trailer below to get a sense of the storyline:



LINK: Fox Searchlight - Black Swan

Exit Through The Gift Shop - A Banksy Film

*Spoiler Alert: Read At Your Own Risk!*

This past Friday, the besties and I headed to Brooklyn's BAM Rose Cinemas to watch the highly anticipated Banksy film, Exit Through The Giftshop. Amazing movie! At first, the movie begins with French film director (later turned street artist by the name of Mr. Brainwash) Thierry Guetta explaining his obsession with filming any and everything in sight. Later on we find out that his introduction to the street art culture was actually through his cousin Space Invader who was currently beautifying walls in France with his mosaic "space invader" art work. He then finds his new focus and follows Invader around which causes him to bump into other influential artists where he documents all their high risk adventures. We also learn that for awhile he was shadowing Street Art legend, Shepard Fairey who is well-known for his "Andre the Giant Has A Posse" sticker and wheat paste campaign as well as the piece of work he is notoriously known for, the "Hope" Barack Obama poster. After years of filming Fairey, Guetta was unsure of where his filming career was headed until he hears about an emerging and very controversial street artist by the name of Banksy. The hunt for Banksy became an obsession which was difficult because the artist is and remains incognito. He then finally succeeds and was actually contacted by Banksy where he was given the opportunity to shoot and interview the artist. There's some pretty interesting footage between the two- one being the installation of Banksy's telephone booth at an alley in London and a trip to Disneyland. Anyway, the best part of the movie is the irony of it all. What seems to be a film about Banksy actually turns into a documentary about Thierry becoming a street artist himself and calling himself, Mr. Brainwash. The film then takes you on a journey on how he produces his work and how he put everything on the line to launch his first successful art installment in 2008 called, "Life Is Beautiful" in LA. The commentaries from both Banksy and Fairey were all hilarious! I loved the movie. It was funny and super clever. Even if you're not a fan of street art, I suggest you watch this film. You will laugh your pants off! 


Check out the first 5 minutes of the film:

Also as an extra treat, we witnessed street artist, Ellis Gallagher  live in action chalking up bicycle shadow art outside of the BAM Rose Theatre during opening night. I heard Banksy commissioned him to do this. It was amazing! 

Link: Exit Through The Gift Shop - A Banksy Film

Gummo and Costume Design By Chloë Sevigny

Way before Chloë Sevigny collaborated with Humberto Leon to design her own line for Opening Ceremony, she was credited as a costume designer (also actor) in the 1997 cult film classic, Gummo written and directed by Harmony Korine (who also wrote the movie Kids). The film is based around the 70's and is set on a little town called Xenia, Ohio. Most people might remember this film because of Bunny Boy who is a prepubescent boy that runs around town with fluffy pink bunny ears shirtless with shorts. There's a classic scene in the movie where Bunny Boy is tormented by two other younger boys (one dressed with a cowboy hat and vest). Side note: A clip of this scene was actually in the movie, Belly which was directed by Hype Williams. The main story mainly revolves around Solomon and Tummler who kill cats with their BB guns and sell them to a grocer to finance their "glue huffing" addiction . Then you have Dot (Chloë Sevigny's character) and Darby who are two naive teen girls who are obsessed with making their nipples "perkier" by putting electric tape on them and pulling them off. Then there are little vignettes of other characters who talk about their miserable lives. The movie is quite disturbing and it's not really recommended for all (was rated NC-17 when it came out) because there's slight nudity, animal cruelty , suffering, prostitution, and other racy topics which one can view as injustice or immoral.  Anyway, the costume design for this movie fit the bill. I read somewhere that the clothing was purchased at a local thrift to preserve authenticity and it sure looks like. The steez is real 70's. I see denim, denim vests, denim jacket, old school heavy metal shirts, mesh jersey and cotton fabrics, color block tops, stripes, acid wash cropped denim, ripped denim, cut off shorts, floral prints, ruffles, racer back tanks, halter tops, polka dot print,checkerboard print, wind breaker jacket, red sunnies, camouflage pants, trucker hat, jacket patches and hi top sneakers all throughout the movie. 


Check out these screen shots that I took:

 I think the styling is so "American Apparel" meets N.E.R.D's "Lapdance" music video. I think Sevigny did a pretty awesome job for this movie. I also dig that fact that even though it's 2010, some of these looks are making a come back as far as trends especially the denim, prints and color block. What do you think?

Paris, Je T'aime and Vampires in Love

Finished watching Paris, Je'Taime last night and this flick totally blows New York, I Love You out the water. It's 18 short love stories from 18 renowned film directors in five minute parts that revolve around different locations in Paris, the city of love <3. All the stories are unique in its own way, all romantic, some funny, some weird, some sad and tragic. However, personally watching the movie made me feel extra mushy and made me miss Paris a whole lot. It's such a beautiful city rich in art and architecture with a romantic atmosphere like no other country I've ever been to. It's just simply breath taking. The movie is superb with a roster of amazing actors like Elijah Wood, Natalie Portman, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Nick Nolte, Willem Dafoe, and Gerard Depardieu. I was also excited to see the shorts from the Coen Bros. and Wes Craven who contributed to the film. Awesome movie, you MUST watch it.

Anyway, I had so many favorites (one being Natalie Portman's section, Francine) but this one struck me. It's a story about vampires who fell in love in Paris. Whoa! Anyway, this short stars Elijah Wood who discovers a mystic female vampire feeding on a man in the streets of Quartier De La Madeleine. She approaches him with the intent to satiate her thirst but looks at him rather with interest and glamors him and later walks away. In order to lure her back, Wood grabs a empty wine bottle and breaks it to cut his skin open to shed blood. The vamp senses the blood and looks back with lust in her eyes but does not give in to the temptation to feed and continues to walk away. The mortal is puzzled and bleeding profusely which causes him to become light headed and to accidentally tumble down the stairs. He kills himself during the fall and lays flat on the ground. A pool of blood pours out of the back of his head spreading out in a heart-shaped form (how ironic, don't you think?). His beloved female vamp senses he's in danger and approaches his lifeless body on the ground. She pierces her wrist with her fangs and offers her blood to speedy his recovery. His lips get a taste of her blood in a few minutes he realizes that he himself has transformed into a creature of the night. Hunger hits him as she holds him in an embrace and he suddenly bites her neck for a taste of more blood. She reacts surprisingly yet in a sadistic manner and aims for his neck to also get a taste in return. As the two feed on each other the screen shot comes to a close in a heart shaped close-up of the two vampires in love. AWW, how cute! Loved the dark imagery especially the use of the color red signifying blood and the love that bonded the two together. The director Vincenzo Natali did a wonderful job!


LINK: YouTube

A Serious Man = Some Serious Eye Wear

Finally saw A Serious Man, the latest film from the Coen Bros and I must admit, that movie got my brain all frazzled but in a very good way. I love movies that make me think and movies that give me a chance to formulate my own ending. If you want to know what I mean, I advise you to watch the movie because it's pretty amazing! Anyway, I couldn't help fall in love with some serious eye wear through out the film. Since the movie was set in the Midwest around 1967, the characters were wearing an array of retro specs. Loved them all! Check them out:

Larry Gopnik - Lemtosh from Moscot Originals

Sy Ableman

Sarah Gopnik

Miscellaneous Characters throughout the movie with awesome eye glasses


After seeing such great eye wear, I'm about to throw out my contact lenses and go back to wearing glasses! After all, people remember me as the short Asian girl with the glasses (and no folks, I am not Charlene Yi although we might look slightly alike.. hehe). Costume designer, Mary Zophres did an excellent job picking out specs for all the characters. Also on another note, I read somewhere that each set of glasses were made with two different lenses- one which was clear and another that is anti-reflective and coated which were alternated based on lighting. Sweet! Something I would have never known. There must have been a lot of glasses floating around the set. Are you feeling the retro specs? I sure am! :)


For amazing optical shops, check out these sites:
Selima Optique
Moscot
Silver Lining Opticians
Morgenthal Frederics


NOTE: all pictures were taken via screen shot, pardon the crappy resolution...