The Corrections

This novel brings tears and laughs out of me at the very same moment.

This is why I love American post-modern novels about family.

This is why I like reading character study novels, reading how characters constructed, deconstructed and reconstructed.

I like how this epic family story is all tied back together, it's definitely worth multiple readings.

I'm extremely delighted to see the things I liked were mentioned in a very interesting way in the book, like "secular" John Updike, modern day play of Crime and Punishment starring Giovanni Ribisi (whose girlfriend is Cat Power), the Flaming Lips, Stephen Malkmus and Ingmar Bergman films.

I knew I had something in common with this guy (Mr Franzen) when I was reading his TIME-magazine-cover column.

I'm probably talking a lot of nonsense.

But oh boy, what a WONDERFUL novel it is!!!

Now, I can't wait to start reading Freedom!!!

Prefab Sprout

今年初開始, 就把他們的歌不斷的repeat。這麼多好聽的歌，怎麼戒的掉？
Paddy 寫的是流行悅耳的歌曲, Wendy 在背景的合音簡直是天籟！

讓子彈飛

導演：姜文
編劇：姜文、述平、郭俊立、危笑、李不空、朱蘇進
原著小說：馬識途（夜譚十記中的《盜官記》）
演員：姜文、周潤發、葛優、劉嘉玲、陳坤、胡軍
音樂：久石讓
年份：2010 (中國)

評分: 9/10

這是我最近一兩年看到最驚豔的華語電影。何止過癮，簡直令人拍案叫絕！
也因為這部片而認識了才氣逼人的姜文。

演技方面根本沒得挑剔，看這些實力派的大明星飆戲，只能說爽！

故事方面，如果沒有深層一點去了解，可以說是娛樂性十足的商業電影。許多荒謬的黑色幽默，在華語電影裡並不常見。但如果去了解姜文在電影裡設定的歷史時間，便可以很輕易的了解這部電影正是再戲弄民國初年的國民黨和共產黨。妙的是，他並不是一味的貶國民黨或是讚揚共產黨，而是將兩方的醜惡之處以隱喻的方式表現。另外也點出中國人民的愚昧和弊病。如果想要了解，請看這篇國民黨VS共產黨。關於這部片還有太多解讀的密碼，有興趣的人在自己去找來看。

就以商業大片來說，不管是效果，設計，或是內容，整部片真的是超越大部分的華語電影。這部片唯一的小小遺憾，就是觀眾的共鳴不會很深，因為他說的是歷史。另外，外國人可能也很難了解這部片妙的地方。

延伸閱讀：
姜文：世界本來就很荒誕

Black Swan

Director: Darren Aronofsky
Writers: Mark Heyman, Andres Heinz, and John J. McLaughlin
Cast: Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis and Vincent Cassel
Year: 2010
IMDB

My Rating: 7/10

Ghost movie + Ballet is what this film is about, and I don't like the ghost movie part. It is known that ghost movie often plays with the human psychological fear, but I don't like it. My brain automatically rejects illogical things, rather than accepts them. Thus, the only part I like about this film is Natalie Portman's performance, the ballet performance. Amazing!

127 Hours

Director: Danny Boyle
Writers: Danny Boyle (screenplay), Simon Beaufoy (screenplay)
Cast: James Franco, Amber Tamblyn and Kate Mara
Music: A.R. Rahman
Year: 2010
IMDB

My Rating: 8/10

One of the most outstanding thing about this film is the cinematography, the colour and texture of the shots are absolutely terrific. Danny Boyle is also capable of turning the plain story into a great film. This is a story of courage and the will to live. Very recommended. Boyle did it again!