Maria... I've just met a girl named Mariaa..

If you've seen 'West Side Story' then the title should make some sense.. you have to sing it as in the movie.. if not.. then just move along..

Ok

I've had a gruesomely chaotic weekend... and add in a little dose of 'my maid has chicken pox' makes a perfect recipe for disaster.. the good thing is...I managed to squeeze in one movie.. 'Maria Full of Grace'


First thing's first..
Quick Credits (as recommended by Bandicoot)
Cast:
Catalina Sandino Moreno .. as María Álvarez
Yenny Paola Vega .. as Blanca
Guilied Lopez .. as Lucy Díaz

Written and Directed by.. Joshua Marston

Awards and Nominations (at a glance)
Nominated for Best Actress.. 2005 Oscars
Won the Silver Bear Award for Best Actress.. 2004 Berlin International Film Festival
Won the Alfred Bauer Award (Joshua Marston).. 2004 Berlin International Film Festival
Won the Audience Award for Drama (Joshua Marston).. 2004 Sundance Film Festival
and many many many more.

Maria, a Columbian seventeen year old, is struggling as any other Columbian. With no father or any male presence, she has taken the role of supporting her family.. . Her sister doesn't work and blames it on the fact that she has to take care of her baby.. again no father there..So it's all on Maria's shoulders to make sure the money get through to keep her family alive and well... Not only that.. Maria has just found out that she's pregnant...

and you thought you had problems... WAIT..

Maria works in a flower plantation.. she de-thorns roses.. Maria, though, has a different mentality and you can see that right from the beginning. She is 'stubborn' and strong headed..
So after a quarrel with her employer.. She quits her job and decides to go to Bogota to find a better job.. Her family begs her to go back to the plantation.. she refuses to even think about it.. As she is off to the city, she bumps into Franklin, the guy who was flirting with her a couple of nights ago... He tells her he might know of someone that might help her make money fast...
and this is where the story begins...
the offer... around 5000 dollars(which is millions in Columbian money).. what does she have to do...
she has to become a 'mule'... we've all heard stories about them.. you guessed it.. she has to swallow pellets of cocaine, fly to New York, and give it to the drug lords there...

Before she makes her decision to go ahead, she meets Lucy, who she clearly figures to be a mule... she decribes the process and explains the procedures.. the pellets are HUGE..to practice, Lucy hands her a bowl or purple grapes.. she'd have to learn to swallow them whole first.. Moreno was perfect.. I think she did have to practice real hard to perform this on film... Lucy also warns her that if the pellet breaks in her stomach, she's dead... and and and... they'd have to swallow more than 50 or as much as their body can take or fit...

Blanca, Maria's friend from the plantation, finds out and decides to be a mule as well.. Blanca is not that bright, you can tell that she's a follower.. she'd allow life to take it's toll without the fight.. which gives us the perfect threesome...

Maria - sharp but desperate, contemplating on what to do with her life and the life that lies within her womb..including the responsibity of being the provider of the house..
Lucy - the veteran, she's been a mule twice, and who's simply desperate (also goes to New york to try to make amends with her sister)
Blanca - naive and desperate (she says with that money she can buy her family a new home)



The day comes where they have to swallow and travel... all dispersed to different locations.. they meet in the airplane where they try not to be obvious.. Lucy is not feeling well.. and Maria simply has to go.. what do they do...
I'll leave the rest for you to see...

Verdict: this has to be one truly amazing film... it shows you how desperate people can be.. how ruthless drug lords could be... and at the end of the day how HUMAN we all are..
so how does the story end for these columbians... each differently... and not all stories have happy endings specially when drugs are involved..
the other gripping factor is Maria.. her presence on screen.. simply powerful..her personality.. her reactions.. her strength.. and her will to live a better life.. for her sake and for her child's sake..

and one final note: After seeing how the flower plantations are.. I'll always look at packed flowers differently.. each packed bundle was packed by someone... and each 'someone' has a story and this possibly is one of them.

Check this out...


Makes you think huh?

Yes.. I'm a 'thumbsucker'....but let's leave that between 'me you and everyone we know'

Another weekend another movie.. well actually two movies... 'Thumbsucker' and 'Me and you and everyone we know'....

Yes I'm a thumbsucker.. When I was a baby, my mom was so happy that I didn't need a pacifier.. little did she know that my thumbsucking habits would be her worst nightmare... and believe me she tried everything to make me stop... nothing worked... I ended up sucking my thumb until the age of seven...what or who made me stop? 'Dracula' but that's another post all together...
But now you'd understand why I just had to watch 'Thumbsucker'..


The movie revolves around a seventeen(not seven) year old called Justin.. Justin is not the cool kid in school.. he's a loner... he'd spend his breaks locked in the bathroom 'soothing himself' by sucking his thumb...it was his comfort...
His family? well the only one who's really concerned about this habit is his dad Mike... one more thing... You'll notice that Justin calls his dad Mike and his mom Audrey(played by Tilda Swinton,the chic who played Gabriel in Constantine and The Witch in Chronicles of Narnia). ..Justin will tell you why when you see the film..

Mike is the guy who almost made it to the big times (in football) if it weren't for the knee injury.. He never knew how to deal with his fate and doesn't know how to deal with justin now... there's a clear ambiguity in his relationship with his son.. He loves his son but for some reason he doesn't show it till around the end of film... Audrey, on the other hand.. was the chic-to-have in highschool... She now works as a nurse.. She's also currently fixated on TV actor Matt Schramm played by Benjamin Bratt.. Though she plays the role of the understanding mom.. she too has her own story.. but I don't want to ruin it.. my hint would be that it has to do with her crush on the actor...
Now you know a bit about Justin and his family...well he has a younger brother as well..
One day, Justin pays a visit to his hippy-happy-go-lucky dentist played by none other than Keanu Reeves.. the dentist is aware of Justin's problem(since he was a thumbsucker himself) so he decides to cure him in his own way(remember he's a flower-child)... On the other hand..The school also diagnose him with ADD(Attention Deficit Disorder) and request that he goes on Ritalin(as another student commented.. SPEED). So, lonely Justin is now transformed into a chaotic individual and a fantastic member of the debate team headed by Mr. Geary (Vince Vaughn)... This transformation was an amazing one
From.. thumbsucker.. to drug addict.. to a normal teenager trying to just be...

Verdict: Good movie, recommended for the movie buff.. if you're into mainstream hollywood... this is not for you... unless you're willing to have a taste of something different..
the only thing I didn't like were the scenes where he was sucking his thumb.. having been a thumbsucker.. he didn't seem to be doing it right...

Movie number two..
'Me and you and everyone we know'...

a contemporary artist, Christine...a newly seperated shoe salesman and father of two boys, Richard... his two boys.. their neighbor, a young girl with her 'hope chest'.. two teenager girls who want to be older and a lonely art gallery owner.. enough characters literaly describe you me and everyone we know...
This is Miranda July's first film.. she wrote it, directed it and acted as Christine... she did a great job.. because this has to be one of the most original screenplays I've ever seen on film...plus she's a true poet..
The story, in essense, is about how difficult it is for people to get together in these today's stressful world ...but despite all the obstacles, we still manage to do so..
All the characters are linked together in one way or the other..in a very scruffy way...


if you're wondering what this pic is.. hold your thoughts..
The hobby the two boy's have (besides chatting with an eldery woman and seducing her) is drawing pictures with the symbols as above.. I'm sure you've seen some with the pics of marylin monroe or some other 3D pics.... the last pic they show in the film is somewhat similar to what I've scribbled on top... when the younger brother asks the elder what it is, he explain that this is the view of people from the sky.. 'See that's you and that's me.. and that's everyone we know'
This movie is truly an 'arthouse' film...I loved Miranda's role as the artist who also runs an 'eldercab' driving eldery people around..and her search for love... the shoesalesman...
I loved one of her videos (her art) where Richard sells her a pair of pink shoes that she thought she didn't need... the pair of shoes become her main actors in her video and marking the words 'You' on one shoe and 'me' on the other.. she wears the shoes and films a sequence of how she's imagine her and Richard get to know one another... very quirky but in a way romantic.. I loved it..



but this is only her role in the movie ... you still have to see the others do their part.. I'm not telling u about them..
another stand out moment... the quest to save the goldfish..very touching!!

Verdict: one of the most beautiful, heartfelt movies I've seen.. Winner of the Camera d'or Award for best first film at the Cannes Film Festival. A magical, funny, bittersweet experience. Definitely recommended.

over and out...

Cosmic

Life is Good!!

I've been browsing through many blogs the past couple of days.. and I found myself passing through them as one would switch TV stations to find the right channel... 'too controversial.. too loud.. boring.. asking for attention.. too naïve.. too this and too that and and and...'

I must admit it was first interesting to read what people have to say about Dubai and other stuff that interest them.. but after a while (since I'm still fairly new here) it just got boring and the word of the the day REDUNDANT... (balushi, you might want to look this word up in a dictionary)

it was depressing!! the rants.. the compaints.. the cussing.. the yadayadayada..people please!!

I first started my blog for a very simple reason.. I wanted to try it out and I also wanted to know whether I can get a fair idea if anyone in Dubai would be interested in going to an arthouse cinema of course I didn't get the response that I thought I would.. but it was expected I guess...
and then I started posting about movies and some other things that caught my eye and interest...

Today is different!!

This post is for all those who do the above and who are in denial of doing the above!! and yes I mean you too..

I just picked up some of my favorite songs and got into my car... I switched off the 'ranting' on the radio as well.. and I started listening to Andrea Bocelli's "because we believe'
and it goes..

Once in every life
There comes a time
We walk out all alone
And into the light
The moment won't last but then,
We remember it again
When we close our eyes.

...
...
...
Like stars across the sky
We were born to shine
..
All of us here because we believe..

beautiful song..
so..
why are we here..
what are we doing with our life..
where are we heading..
where will we be in the next ten years..
where will we be tomorrow...

and before you start with your next post of endless rants...
remember...
it's easy to talk about something...
the challenge comes when we have to DO something about it..
so what are you going to do?

and now repeat after me...

I am alive..
I am healthy..
I am privileged to do many things other people can't..
and ...you know what...
take a few deep breaths.. feel the oxygen rush to your brains.. feel the blood flow though your veins...
and say..
I am well.. I am alive.. and LIFE IS GOOD..

(now don't you just feel better?)

USE YOUR HANDS!!

Ok...
My usual outing to Mall of the Emirates starts out with a visit to Virgin Megastore.. and it's a lengthy visit... which involves a thorough search through the DVD section.. my routine after that whether I buy something or not is a short trip to Columbus cafe adjascent to Virgin... I order my usual... a strawberry smoothie(it's absolute heaven!) so I wait for my drink.. in the mean time I quickly scan the people in the coffee shop.. that's when something caught my eye...
this thin omani dude in his local attire sits quietly in the centre table of the shop having a muffin... AH... but how was he having his muffin... well.. he was slicing through it with a fork a knife.. and may I add the paper cup was still around the muffin... he looked as if he was struggling...maybe thinking.. 'why the hell can't I eat this with my hands..damn the english!!'...I almost felt sorry for the guy and wanted to approach him and say.. listen man.. you can eat with your hands..you'll enjoy it better...but then again I've seen worse... I've seen people cut up a california roll before sticking it in their mouths.. by that time it's completely disintegrated on the plate(really beats the purpose of having it in the first place).. or even better.. how about having a hamburger with a fork and knife...what the hell..
So our topic?
When is it ok to use your hands to eat...
The culture that I come from, well.. we always eat with our hands because of the nature of our food... I blame the british who came and ruled for bringing in the cutlery with them.. In addition.. if you go to a really traditional family... we all dig in the same large plate of rice..We stick to our corner... add the 'achar' and the 'salona' (if you're thinking it's discusting.. trust me after you taste the food.. you'll be licking your fingers for more..)But..Gone are those days... I hardly eat with my hands nowadays.. except when I'm eating fish with my rice.. try getting the bones off the fish with a fork, not easy.. so I use my hands.. it's comfortable.. and great once you know what you're doing..
What I've noticed over the years is our people or people from this region think that being 'modern' or 'open minded' means you have to eat with a fork, spoon, and knife..what these 'IGNORANT' people don't know is when to use the cutlery and when to use the hands..
so here's my list of things that can be eaten by hand for those who are too cool to know...
1. buffalo wings
2. Pizza
3. Sandwich (and I mean any sandwich) including Croissants
4. fastfood/junkfood
5. Anything that comes in a paper cup.. such as cupcakes, Muffins, scones..etc
6. Danish Pastries
7. any fruit
8. 'Add yours here'

Now things NOT to eat with your hands...
1. Steak
2. soup (kinda difficult no? but you can sip right through the bowl if you're at a japenese place)
3. any salad.. be it veg or fruit salad
4. and everything else that's not on the previous list...

There...
It's off my shoulder...

Betty Blue, Leila and the Secretary

Three films.. three women.. three continents...in one weekend...
I didn't do it on purpose but I did end up watching three movies this weekend with women as the protagonists...



Betty Blue...
Country of Origin: France
Director's cut (unrated version)
first of all very long movie... but maybe the original cut may have been different.
I thought the acting was great.. I knew french people are very comfortable with nudity but I really didn't expect to see sooo much in one movie... To me it's the nudity that may have taken over the story...
The story is simple, the only thing that's complex is Betty's character... The movie, in brief, revolves around electrifying Betty and her beau Zorg. Impulsive, stubborn and with a mind of her own, she stumbles across a novel that Zorg had written.. She starts the quest to getting it published.. To save Zorg from a life of nothingness... when in fact she will need saving more than him by the end of the movie..
I really believe that this movie could've been alot more aggressively effective.. without all the nudity.. sure it did play an important part in highlighting Betty's character and personality.. I felt this especially at the end when she completely lost it.. The scene with her make-up all smudged sitting by the table was very powerful and touching, but it didn't balance out with the other scenes... I'm not sure what was going through the director's brain... He must have wanted the story to mesmorise... maybe he thought that he had to expose her beauty with the nudity and then expose her 'imperfection'... I thought that they had chosen the right betty... Because.. she was very vibrant and pretty, but her looks weren't perfect... when she smiles her teeth really stick out... so in a way I thought she was perfect for the role... she looked the part and acted the part very well..
verdict... I don't think I would've nominated it for an oscar or a bafta(which it was)... the story was good but the string of events could've been a lot more better.... for comparison's sake if you have watched 'Of mice and men'(John Malcovich, Gary Sinise) you can understand what I'm trying to say... these were 2 men and I cried.. in betty blue they were lovers... and I wasn't moved as much...

Moving on to the next female..



Leila
Country of Origin: Iran
Very very touching and poignant.. this story revolves around a newly wed couple... Leila cannot conceive... and this isn't her only problem.. he mother in law is selfishly influencing her to make her husband marry a second wife so that he can get kids.. Since he's her only son... She keeps on telling Leila that her son has always loved kids and it would a sin for him not to have any... Reza (the husband)loves leila and insists that they do not need to have kids... His mother on the other hand has other intensions... and so she convinces Leila to agree that Reza marry another to get a child.. but Leila has to approve.. and so the quest begins... her tormented soul numbs.. the acting was superb... What was even more interesting was the way the film was shot... The start and end of the movie start with the same ceremony... Since (I'm assuming) the director cannot reveal the women's hair, all the scenes were shot with the women wearing their 'chadar' scarves.. the scene that would expose Leila's hair was very dim.. her face was hidden by the shadow...
Throughout the film, the director would focus on Leila's face.. refecting her tormented soul... her muted scream...the suppressed tears.. she was absolutely brilliant at it..
excellent film, excellent story.. and gives you an idea of how life may be like in Tehran...
very interesting...

and finally....

Secretary
Country of Origin: America
A very young Maggie Gyllenhaal takes on this challenging role and may I add her first starring role as Lee Holloway.. The movie starts with her release from a mental hospital. Lee is naive, gentle, vunerable and suffers from the lowest self esteem.. her relief?.. self-mutilation(yup.. insertion of sharp objects.. pain...etc..)...She starts working as a secretary for lawyer Edward Grey notoriously played by James Spader...
He perfected sexual torment to a fine degree, and delivered a rather interesting performance.. a sadist who is ashamed of his dark urges.. but Lee is so submissive that he couldn't help exploiting his position as the employer leading to the most bizarre sado-masochistic relationship ever..
The story is very interesting...I think what really made this story stand out is that there was very little talk between the two... you have to read their minds and understand what is going on... just like life itself..
as weird as the relationship was.. I must admit... I was still thinking about it days after I saw it...

there you have it...

and that's a wrap!!

After the block.. comes D!!

First thing's first... 'Rabbit Rabbit Rabbit!!' I had a teacher who preached that at the beginning of every month a person should wake up and say 'Rabbit' 3 times... or else they'll be cursed with bad luck for the entire month... She also said that the day she forgot to say it.. She had a spider 'greet' her in her shower and she has a phobia for those creatures.... any truth in this? I think she knew how to keep an eleven year old listening...
Now...
Back to my post...
I said I was going to write a post of my friend D... or better known from my comments' section as Dhaheri....



And the story goes...
D is a very nice guy... I'm still not sure why he hasn't blogged for such a long long long time.. well maybe he's busy eating... He loves Food you see...
Having said that...
He is also a very interesting individual... here's why...
He has a picture of a plate of 'qeema' (minced meat ragout Indian style with peas) in his blog...
He is the person to meet if you ever want to laugh... it's a gift, I tell you.. the guy is simply hilarious..
adding to this, he also likes to make shorts when he wants to escape life and its pressures...
his short films are a kaleidoscope of very very funny pantomimes with ninjas and mermaids and ironic parrots..
now the juicy part...
My friend D is the creator and the leader of a very hush hush secret club...
'the no-maams' club...(as D would say... 'yes maam, yes maam.. NOOO MAAM's club)
yes.. you got it... A club against us, women.. hehehehhehe
He even created a site for it and when he found out that the members were all really women (trying to find out what the club was all about), his heart was broken and he closed down the site...
his theory.... 'women are taking over the world... we, men, have to fight this...'
on another note...
D happens to be a loving husband and father of two...
he lives (in his own world)in the basement of his house...most probably humming to 'Vangelis'..or singing with Demis Roussus..need I say more...
So my friend D...
after all that's been said... you're one hell of a guy.. and you can make me laugh anytime...
sorry about your club... maybe the sci-fi one will do better...
and if you find that more chics are trekkies than men... then... uhmmmmm... my condolences to that club as well... sorry we, women, happen to love many things that men like as well...
keep trying!!

Thanx for being such a good sport...
Thanx for starring in my blog!!