Beasts of the Southern Wild trailer

To all of you who haven't seen this movie, I greatly recommend it. It moved and made me cry... Eh I mean... It inspired me. I leave you the trailer so you can enjoy it.

So, Can We Say Bunheads?

ABC Family premiered three weeks ago their new show "Bunheads". I must say I fell in love with it immediatly. First it is an Amy Sherman Palladino show, which guarantees an original (who you may know from Gilmore Girls) , fast paced script. Besides you got a load of talent lead by Sutton Foster (awesome Broadway actress) and Kelly Bishop with a very well rounded character, like Emily Gilmore was.

A New Kind of Sci-fi?

As fairly interseted –and yes you may say it, nerdy-  sci-fi fan, it has been brought to my attention that in the last couple of years the genre has shown change. That change is bringing us extremely interesting films with many new elements that I’m personally loving.

It’s seems as though filmmakers are trying to mesh really ordinary characters and dramatic situations with science fiction elements. This trend is creating really interesting stories with really profound messages that make us question the core of our own humanity. And don’t get me wrong, I still love space operas and alien invasions, but these movies are making me wonder if we ran out of explanations to who and what we are.

I’ll list here some movies that better exemplify what I’m trying to say. 

1.  Melancholia:

This film, directed by the controversial Lars Von Trier, opened in 2011 in Cannes. After some dodgy comments in a press conference, he was banned from the festival. Lars comments not withstanding, the movie got a great reception. Kirsten Dunst took the award for best actress and Charlotte Geinsburg was praised for her performance.

The story centers around two sisters –played by Dunst and Geinsburg— that are very different from each other. The movie starts with a wedding and evolves until a cataclysmic event ends the world. Consistent with Von Trier style, the characters are deeply flawed and forced to face death in a very unique situation. After Antichrist, Von Trier returns to use metaphors for depression with this movie and it is done beautifully. Filled with stunning visuals, Melancholia is the perfect example of a different kind of science fiction, which in this case, is irrelevant to what the film is trying to say.

     2.  Another Earth:

This indie film premiered in Sundance Film Festival in 2011. It was produced with the very small budget of $200,000 and written by Mike Cahill, director of the film and Brit Marling, star of the film. This film gives hope to all of those who are writing great sci-fi screenplays but don’t have huge amounts of money to produce them.

The story centers on Rhoda, a brilliant 17 year-old girl who is in love with astronomy. One day, while celebrating her acceptance into MIT, she gets drunk and gets distracted by the radio talking of a planet that resembles Earth had been discovered. As she gazes into the sky, Rhoda accidentally drives into a family’s car, killing the mother and the son. After she gets out of jail four years later, she enters a contest to win a ticket to what now has been named Earth 2, after it was discovered the planet was a mirror of our own Earth. At the same time, she seeks redemption by trying to help the survivor of the car crash.

With brilliant acting, and a really interesting approach to the action-reaction dynamic, Another Earth dips into fantasy making real what we all have wondered sometime: What if I had done things differently?

    3.  Never Let Me Go:

Originally a book by Kazuo Ishiguro. this 2010 movie seeks to remind humanity of the responsibilities we have to that which we create. The movie follows the life of Kathy H – played by Carey Mulligan – from the moment she realizes she exists, until she understands her destiny and the purpose for which she was created. It is a soul-searching movie in which the characters don’t have the freedom to explore, making the outcome emotionally tragic.

This story makes science fiction integral to the plot in a very subtle way and it is almost imperceptible, in spite of it’s importance. Full of darkness, it reminds the audience that you only live once. The cast is completed with wonderful performances by Andrew Garfield and Keira Knightley.

     4.    Perfect Sense:

What would happen if, gradually, we started losing each sense? This is the premise of the Perfect Sense, a more extreme example of what sci-fi is looking like these days. It’s obvious, big and in your face. It is also a love story between two complicated human beings that have to adapt while trying to stay together.

The interesting thing about this movie is that it treats common issues in unconventional ways. It is a great metaphor for aging and the frailty of being human and how it affects the way we relate to other people. Even though the movie has a great premise, it falls short in some aspects. Particularly so in the character development department, specially with Susan – played by Eva Green – who feels flat and lacks the depth that was needed for her chracter. Ewan McGregor completes the duo in this film directed by David McKenzie.

So, this is the mini list of movies that are, in my opinion, innovating in the sci-fi arena. Hit the comment section and tell me what other sci-fi movies I might have missed.

Ana Karenina

Joe Wright comes back with his muse, Keira Knightley, in Ana Karenina. The movie is set to come out later this year. I am actually killing to see this movie. What do you guys think?

Brandi Carlile's "Bear Creek", a Review

You get home, turn on your laptop, open iTunes and begin to download a new CD. Then, you begin to listen to it and, if you are lucky, you get lost in the journey of music. It doesn’t matter who it is talking about, the situation it was inspired on, or why a song was written in the first place. Music has the distinct trait of making you feel, because you get to put your own story into it. This is what happened to me earlier this week when I listened to Brandi Carlile’s new CD: “Bear Creek”.

As many others, I discovered Brandi Carlile watching an episode of “Grey’s Anatomy”. After hearing a song in a very emotional scene I was compelled to learn more about her. So, naturally, I went to youtube and began listening to her music; I was instantly captivated. Something happened that I had never experienced before: her music appealed to me in a deeply personal level.

           

With four other CD’s under her belt (including a live one), Brandi Carlile and her band mates, Phil and Tim Hanseroth, return with “Bear Creek”, a production that Carlile has repeatedly said she is very proud of. It was all recorded in a little studio in the state of Washington, and like all her other CD’s, it was done in a very unique and intimate environment.

Most of the songs blew me away. They have that folky/rock/country vibe that is identifiable as Brandi’s style. Above that, it is a honest piece of work. Her voice has soul and in those screams, yodels and imperfections we get greatness. We see the best examples of this in songs like “I’ll Still Be There”, “Raise Hell” and “A Promise to Keep”. In those heartfelt and natural moments, you get to feel the emotions she is trying to convey. We get to feel heartbroken, melancholic, mad and hopeful as the music penetrates our soul. Not many people can do that.

Another cool thing that I noticed in “Bear Creek” is the voice of the twins. They are used more in this CD than it the others and I must say it sounds awesome; it adds personality to the songs like “A Hard Way Home”. I read somewhere their voices are made to sound like an incoming train, and it is a recurring thing in many of the tracks. Pay attention and you will notice it.

Other notable tracks are “That Wasn’t Me” (which by the way, is the first single), “100”, “Save Part of Yourself” and the song that I believe to be my favorite in the whole album: “Why Did I Ever Come Here For.”

All in all, “Bear Creek” is an excellent CD. It is complex. We can see Brandi and the twins putting themselves and their feelings out there, which makes the songs transcend. In a world in which a lot of the music has lost a lot of power in the sense that songs are forgettable, Brandi Carlile is a breath of fresh air. 

Les Miserables Trailer!

So after all the speculation about the casting - Lea Michele? Taylor Swift?- and the general production of the movie, we get the first trailer for "Les Miserables", me likes. Hit the comment section and tell me what you think!

Snow White and the Hunstman, a Review

We are in a year full of hero stories; the same classic stories of a hero leaving home to encounter his destiny. But there is a twist to these new hero stories: our heroes are actually heroines. Joseph Campbell would be very proud to see how the formula adapts years later, and would even be surprised to see it works just fine. “Snow White and the Huntsman” fits right in this category and I must say I was very surprised with the way they approached the movie. The damsel in distress is becoming the savior and I’m having a great time watching this change.

“Snow White and the Huntsman” tells the classic tale of the Grimm Brothers’ “Snow White” (played in this iteration by Kristen Stewart). It all starts when Ravenna (Charliza Theron) comes to the kingdom, seduces, marries the King and later kills him. She ends up taking the throne and banning Snow White into a bleak dungeon, afraid of what she could become. After many years, Snow White is able to escape and as the classic fairy tale tells us, a huntsman (Chris Hemsworth) is sent to kill her. With the help of many unexpected creatures, Snow White will have to show who she truly is and claim what is rightfully hers.

This year we got to see three Snow Whites: One on TV in “Once Upon a Time”, one who tried to be funny in “Mirror, Mirror” and Stewart’s own version of her. As it was to be expected, comparisons and expectations were thrown into all three of them. To be honest, I think the one that truly captures the essence of what a modern hero is truly about is the one we see in “Snow White and the Huntsman”. Rooky director Rupert Sanders established a tone, not being afraid of going over the top. He created a world and respected its rules and that is why it works.

The technical aspects of the movie immensely aid the suspension of disbelief necessary to enjoy the film. For one, the cinematography is beautiful and achieves some breathtaking shots that elevate the canvas they are painting for us, giving reality within a fantastical world. The stark color contrast between brightness and dark make for a rich visual experience that had me wowing more than once.

This goes hand in hand with the art, sets, and places used to shoot the movie. They really created a world were you can feel the difference between “what should have been” and how the Queen has changed the world. They use nature to connect Snow White and this eccentric, filled-with-life environment. Through the colors and ambience we know our characters: Snow White’s is filled with life, hope and courage, whereas Ravenna’s is proud, fearful and full of despair. It is a pretty obvious metaphor, but it works and it enhances the narrative if on a subtextual level.

The three main characters are well casted. Kristen Stewart finally gets a big role in which she can show her acting skills. Having said this, her character doesn’t let her enough room to get to the level she has shown in movies like “Adventureland” and “Speak”, and her semi-british accent kinds sucks. Charlize Theron shines as the evil queen; she is scary, beautiful and over the top. Chris Hemsworth was made for the role as the morally confused huntsman with the dreamy face and heart of gold. Between the three, they carry the movie well.

Having said all the positive stuff, there are a couple of things that don’t let the movie be what it could’ve been. The script, even for a very simple tale of bravery and sacrifice, makes the narrative feel choppy. The story doesn’t flow in its entirety and it seems slow at times. This I attribute, mostly, to amount of unnecessary characters. The most notable example is Prince Charming or William (Sam Claflin), the love triangle can’t even be called that and it makes this character seem annoying and out of place. He feels like a pawn used by the writers to fill the empty spaces they had in their story. It’s hard to connect with him, and he takes room from other stuff that could have been explored deeper, like Snow White’s relationship with Ravenna, the dwarves or even the huntsman.

All in all, “Snow White and the Huntsman” makes for great entertainment with some impressive achievements. It has some pretty big faults, but at the end the positive parts of the film outweigh them. It is not deep and soulful, but still presents a new type of protagonist that represents a cool new twist.  

Snow White and Prince Charming Visit México: Kristen Stewart and Sam Claflin Press Conference

Foto: Cristina Vales 

Snow White is back –and for the second time this year no less. First we had the “funny” version of the princess with “Mirror, Mirror” and now we are presented with the dark and overpowering version in “Snow White and the Huntsman”. Apparently, Hollywood is trying to change the essence of who we think Snow White is. In fact, movies, books and TV are starting a trend were we can see a bunch of complex female heroines with the will and mind to be strong and independent—like Katniss from “The Hunger Games” or Carrie from “Homeland”- which is awesome.

The traditional female role is changing and even blockbusters are embracing the change. I personally enjoy seeing a woman fight with her own skills and smarts opposed to seeing the damsel in distress waiting for the strong and handsome man to come and save her by kicking 40 guys in the ass. It is interesting to see a woman fight with her means and if we think about it, it also gives a whole new meaning to the man’s presence in the story. It gives new ways to create characters and new ways of telling stories.

As we see these new characters it is also important to note what kind of girls and women are being chosen to play these heroines. In this case we have Kristen Stewart, who ironically has been typecasted for playing the ultimate damsel in distress—which frankly, comes from people who doesn’t know the rest of Stewarts career-. When I heard that Kristen Stewart and Sam Claflin were giving a press conference for the movie, I jumped at the chance to go and understand where this character and story were coming from.

To begin, I must say I have immense respect for Kristen Stewart. I really believe she is a normal girl who is living an extraordinary situation and handling it to the best of her social abilities. And I say this because I had the chance to go into the photo call with bunches of photographers and reporters and they were all saying how mean she was and how conceited she was. She wasn’t.

Then, she came out and I had 30 tall and bulky dudes trampling me to take a picture and screaming at her in Spanish for her to pose and look over to their cameras. They were basically chastising her for being “rude” when she probably didn’t even understand the language they were speaking. And that’s when I realized how unforgiving the media can be and how subjective things like these can become. We expect these people to be chatty and smiley and sometimes their personality isn’t set that way, that doesn’t mean they are rude or mean.

Foto: Cristina Vales

That is why I was glad she was able to defend herself as they asked her why she wouldn’t stop to say hi to her fans at the airport. “I would love to walk through an airport alone,” she said with a big smile on her face. She apologized if someone felt brushed off and added, “México is the most welcoming and passionate. They are unabashedly happy to see you.” She expressed her sadness for not being able to go out in México City, because her security team won’t let her.  

After the photo call, we all went to the press conference that was set up pretty cool, with a fake forest and low color lights. Kristen and Sam were brought on stage and immediately were asked what lured them into the project. Sam said that it was interesting to reinvent a classic fairy tale by reinventing their classic characters.

Kristen said that they wanted, “to stay really true to who Snow White was classically.” Meaning: she is a girl who is not pretending to have the abilities of a boy, but a woman that can fight in more ways than physically. She also told the press that this particular story appealed to her because they were able to show a very dark part of a fairy tale that, in the end, made the light in the same movie even more gorgeous.

Stewart stated that princess stories weren’t her favorite when growing up. But for her this princess was different, “the cool thing about our movie is that it humanizes the characters.” Sam agreed by saying his character was “a more realistic man who is able to defend himself and has backbone.”

At this point, the conference was accompanied by the chants of dozens of teen girls who were waiting outside and screaming “Kristen! Kristen! Kristen!” over an over. 

Foto: Cristina Vales

Stewart was very clear when she said she is not inclined to become an action movie star. “There has to be a reason for the stories you tell,” then she added. “All of my action is motivated by fear and she is not crippled by it. She moves towards it and is ultimately compassionate.” Sam then added, that although his main roles in “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” and in “Snow White and the Huntsman” have been action driven, he is eager to get other type of roles that would challenge his acting.

Both actors praised their co-star Charlize Theron, saying she was very professional, beautiful. Stewart claimed that Theron was an inspiration as she was growing up. “Charlize blows your hair back when she gets in the room,” she said.

During the whole conference both actors had a smile on their face and were gracious, even if some of the questions asked were somewhat aggressive. They both expressed their happiness with the result and after a couple of pictures they left the stage.

           

Foto: Cristina Vales

Later, as I was leaving the hotel, checking the photos I had just taken, I noticed the bunch of teen girls who we could hear when we were in the conference. So I decided to cross the street, just to realize they had guessed I was just inside and mobbed me.  They began interrogating me about how cool she was, if she looked pretty, if she was truly mean. I told them she was actually awesome and they seemed happy. Then, Sam Claflin decided to say hi to the fans from a balcony and I’m sure I lost 20% of my ability to hear. After that, I left, but not without wishing the fans good luck and hoping for Kristen Stewart to go out and say hi to them, I later heard she actually did.

So, now you can all go see “Snow White and the Huntsmen” which opens June 1^st and see for yourselves if the reinvention of the modern heroine is a reality or just the hopeful thinking of people who produce these movies. And for those interested, my review will be up soon for you to enjoy my awesome criteria on movies.