Beautiful Kate

Director: Rachel Ward
Writers: Rachel Ward (screenplay), Newton Thornburg (novel)
Stars: Ben Mendelsohn, Maeve Dermody, Sophie Lowe and Rachel Griffiths
Year: 2009 (Australia)
IMDB

My Rating: 7/10

Kate is beautiful, and this is a beautiful film. The Australian outback is nicely shot. Actors put out reasonably good performance. Soundtrack is great. Overall, it's a good film. However, it struck me that this film lacks something. I'm not 100% sure what is missing, but it could have been a better film. The movie just didn't strike me on an emotional level. Maybe if I have a sister I love, I would? I don't know. As a matter of fact, I have seen a couple of Australian movies, they all seem to have the same problem. Working on extreme cases, which results no emotional influence over their viewers. Why? Australia has so many talented actors and actresses, but there's not one really great Australian movie?

Big Boi + Theophilus London

The most effortless, natural flow rapper who takes it up another level...

Absolute class, and absolute entertainment. What an amazing night it was.

Nowhere Boy

Director: Sam Taylor-Wood
Writer: Matt Greenhalgh
Stars: Aaron Johnson, Kristin Scott Thomas and Anne-Marie Duff
Year: 2009 (UK)
IMDB

My Rating: 7/10

I think, the thing I like the most about this film, is John's dialogue. I like his cynicism, witty and sarcastic comments. The rest is pretty standard, exactly what you would expect from story-retelling of some famous guy. Trouble, conflict, break-away stuff.

White Dog

Director: Samuel Fuller
Writers: Romain Gary (story), Samuel Fuller (screenplay)
Stars: Kristy McNichol, Christa Lang and Vernon Weddle
Year: 1982
IMDB

My Rating: 7/10

Didn't think that a dog movie would be about racism. But, it is quite nice.
It's moderately touching, and well shot.

The Fugitive Kind

Director: Sidney Lumet
Writer: Tennessee Williams (play "Orpheus Descending")
Cast: Marlon Brando, Anna Magnani, Joanne Woodward and Maureen Stapleton
Year: 1960
IMDB

My Rating: 7/10

An intriguing soap opera for grown-ups. Anna Magnani is amazing. She is not pretty, but she has so much soul, or she knows how to show so much soul to audience, it is very very rare to possess such powerful talent. Marlon Brando, a drifter with a guitar? What else is there to say?

New Albums I'm Really Into...

Clam Casino - Instrumental Mixtape

>>alone at night, this is a perfect soundtrack for night riding, but I listen to it almost all the time. with the beats hitting in my headphone, everything feels ready to expand into the unknown. really, atmospheric music is my thing, loud or minimalism.

Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks - Mirror Traffic

>> i like the album cover, but it's the music I enjoy. Malkmus' songwriting seems to have become mature, cuz he can write whatever he feels like, but at the same time, he hasn't improved at all, still singing with the same old random cynicism.

Jenny Hval - Viscera

>> still trying to figure out her lyrics. probably the most powerful and interesting lyricist I have heard in a long time. her voice brings names like Joni Mitchell, Kate Bush, Linda Perhacs to mind. a very versatile artist who put out a versatile debut album, and it flows effortlessly. sublime stuff.

Bon Iver - Bon Iver

>> this album is a grower. unusually beautiful and exquisite. to put it into a scenario, Emma was like a breakup night, sad and lonely. this album takes place the following morning, when he's still half sleeping, dreaming, slowly awakening...

3 Women

Director/Writer: Robert Altman
Cast: Shelley Duvall, Sissy Spacek and Janice Rule
Year: 1977
IMDB

My Rating: 9/10

This is a film that I feel okay with not understanding everything, I'm happy to leave it as a sort of mystery. Just look at how these characters develop throughout the film, it really wows me. Another weird film I love. Oh, this film was inspired by Bergman's Persona. Though they don't look alike, they are both about dreams and surrealism.