Into the Wild (2007)

Director: Sean Penn Cast: Emile Hirsch, William Hurt, Catherine Keene, Vince Vaughn Country: USA

Sean Penn made sure viewers are left sniffling and bawling by the time Into the Wild's end credits roll. Catherine Keener (Jan Burres), Brian H. Dierker (Rainey), and most notably, William Hurt (Walt McCandless) all obliged, giving sympathetic, deeply affecting portrayals of people mourning the loss of Christopher McCandless. When Walt, exhausted and spent, finally collapsed and wept uncontrollably in the middle of the street, we see grief in its rawest, most primal state.

“Sean is an incredibly special person, and let’s say you’re standing on the edge of a pool wondering if you should jump in, Sean’s the perfect person to push you [in],” Vedder quipped.

Good point, but Penn should leave scriptwriting well alone.

During the film’s second half, McCandless receives a homily from Ron Franz (Hal Holbrook): “When you forgive, you love, and when you love, God’s light shines upon you.” At that very instant, the clouds part and the sun’s divine rays light them up.

Was Penn trying to emulate the Hallmark Channel?

Cassandra’s Dream (2007)

Director: Woody Allen Cast: Ewan McGregor, Colin Farrell, Tom Wilkinson, Hayley Atwell Country: USA

Ewan McGregor is Ian, an ambitious go-getter keen on doing business in California; Colin Farrell is Terry, Ian’s younger brother. When both find themselves in a situation in which money is their only ticket out, they get their hands dirty and take matters into their own hands. Burdened by shame, Terry cracks under pressure. “I want to turn myself in,” he mumbles

Ian almost falls off their boat. “What?!”

“We broke God’s law.”

“God?!” Ian cries incredulously. “What god?! You idiot!"

It’s good to know that Woody Allen hasn’t lost his flair for writing. Many say his glory days are over, that Cassandra’s Dream is part of his filmography’s long line of misfires and flops.

Maybe, maybe not.

Hope flies high with Allen’s new film, Vicky Cristina Barcelona. It’s good that he shot Barcelona in sunny Oviedo; Match Point notwithstanding, London wasn’t particularly helpful to his career.

Cine Europa 11

Cine Europa runs from September 11-21, 2008 at the Shangri-la Plaza mall

I'll always have a soft spot for Cine Europa. For me, C.E. means freedom during which, I can momentarily steer clear of events I don't want anything to do with. There was a time when I used C.E. as an excuse not to attend family reunions. I'm notorious for avoiding birthday parties, family gatherings, baptisms, and weddings, that whenever I do attend, my relatives fumble and go into shock.

"Long time no see!" my aunt would say.

•••

It's been years since I last visited Shang's cineplex. I remember hearing Kenny G's music during film breaks—that's 30 minutes of trumpet-playing for each film that I saw. By the time the film reel started rolling, I was cross, cranky, and irritable.

This weekend, I'm planning to watch After the Wedding, a Danish film, which I hope, will jumpstart my dreary life.

No, we don't have a family gathering that day.

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Click here for more of Cine Europa 11

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (2007)

Director: Julian Schnabel Cast: Mathieu Amalric, Emmanuelle Seigner, Marie-Josée Croze, Anne Consigny Country: USA/France

Jean-Dominique Bauby suffered a massive stroke while driving his two-door sports coupe; he woke up 20 days after completely mute and paralyzed. His doctor explained that he had locked-in syndrome, a condition in which the body is rendered paralyzed. Sensing his patient’s apprehension, Dr. Lepage (Patrick Chesnais) leaned in close, saying, “We want you to take it easy for a few days.” Incensed, Bauby (Mathieu Amalric) thought, “What do you think I’m doing now?”

Despite its theme, Diving Bell is not an exercise in grief and woe. It celebrates life, reassuring us that the human spirit is more resilient than we give it credit for. You’ll be surprised with the things Bauby mulled over while he was billeted in a hospital in northern France. Referring to his vegetative state, he thought, “What kind? A carrot? A leek?”

Frenchman Mathieu Amalric (Munich) gives a brave performance as Bauby, displaying in earnest the latter’s iron will and unyielding determination. It’s easy to make Bauby appear pitiful and vulnerable, but where’s the challenge in that? Amalric’s Bauby exudes quiet dignity and gravity—he's not asking for pity; he’s gunning for respect.

James McAvoy in Mean

James McAvoy photographed by Kurt Iswarienko for Mean

Actor James McAvoy (Wanted, Atonement) recently appeared on the cover of Mean, a magazine which covers three things I daydream of: art, clothes, and cinema.

To drum up interest for their McAvoy issue (and to further fan the flames of adulation amongst the Scotsman’s true believers), Mean made a 77-second short film showcasing the 29-year-old actor traipsing and horsing around in a sleek suit. This flight of whimsy will not warm everyone’s tea cups, but for McAvoy’s starstruck admirers, it might (the film’s gratuitous close-up shots of the actor’s face and lips are in abundance).

In The Dream, photographer Kurt Iswarienko creates a world governed by fast motion sequences and modish clothes. Combining indie filmmaking aesthetics with sly product placement, Dream reinvents the otherwise tried and tested fashion editorial by making it fresh and endearing. Although Iswarienko’s sepia-toned visuals are beautiful and pretty to look at, it's animator/composer Casey James who gives this welcome treat, its substance and texture.

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Click here to view The Dream