Sunday, July 16, 2006

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

11 comments:

misneach said...

That picture with all the semi-colons is really dizzying...

And where am I going to find these movies? There's no arthouse cinema here either...

Cosmic girl said...

hey Misneach.. in the 'dizzlying picture.. the semicolons are supposed to be people walking and the dots are people standing.. (it's a top view)...
and as for the arthouse.. I'm sorry but where do you live? If you don't have an arthouse, then you'll havne to do what I do.. buy them online, in my case from amazon.. but if postal is cheap.. there are some dvd rental shops online that deliver... it's an idea to consider...

dhaheri said...

ok I need to watch them first....& I trust your recommendation

Cinema Paradiso was touching =*)

Cosmic girl said...

Hey D.. my sis got me both versions.. so if you want to see the original one, let me know..

Cosmic girl said...

balushi..I kinda figured!
you just don't know what you're missing..

bandicoot said...

cosmic- two points:
- It would be great if you add a section on the credits for the movies you review; at least the basics: stars, director, producer, etc.
-Have you had problems with customs (or post office) ordering films by mail. I know people who had some problems, namely banned or censored films confiscated.

Cosmic girl said...

Bandicoot... sure thing.. will add credits from now on...
as for ordering dvds..
well.. I think I've been lucky.. Customs have opened more than half of my dvd orders... but they haven't confiscated any(yet).. I think if the cover is provocative, they might just take it.. I guess it depends on their mood.. plus I get mine through the 'shop and ship' service of Aramex.. that also might make a difference.. 'cause if you get it by normal post.. the guys in the post office are worse.. they'll take away anything..

UAE ALIAS said...

Have you been feeling sick of what's going on lately in Palestine, Iraq and now Lebanon? Do you feel like shouting? saying no? having a say on what is happening in Lebanon?
Yes! We are going to protest in the Cornish of AbuDahbi on THU, 27 of JUL, 2006 after AL Asr Prayer.
Make sure to bring your own signs, flags, posters, brochures, etc...
Make sure to let as many of your friends aware of this event, the more the better.
هل سئمت مما يحدث مؤخراً في العراق وفلسطين والآن لبنان؟ هل تريد أن تصرخ؟ أن تقول لا، أن يكون لك كلمة وصوت مسموع عن ما يحدث في لبنان؟
نعم ! سنتظاهر في كورنيش أبوظبي، يوم الخميس الموافق ال 27 من يوليو 2006 بعد صلاة العصر.
تأكد من إحضار أي من الأعلام أو اللافتات التي قد تود استخدامها، ومن إعلام أكبر عدد من معارفك اللذين قد يودون الاشتراك في المظاهرة.

Cosmic girl said...

oh brother..
uhm.. Balushi.. hate to burst your bubble.. but I'd have to pass...
I'm not missing out on much cause for me it's 'been there done that..'

Cosmic girl said...

hey B..
sorry man.. haven't seen it...go check your comments sections.. to know more..

Anonymous said...

Hello cosmic girl, Iliked the movie very much!!!
Specially when the orange fish ( goldfish?) in teh bag with the sun over him and july telling him I love you, we want you die knowing you have been loved.
Sorry cosmic my english not so good.
Where are you from?
M.
Im spanish.