The Great Gatsby

And just like that you can make a girl's night - dinner and a movie - but dinner and 'The Great Gatsby' = 10 Brownie Points! Well, what a treat for me, I finally got to enjoy this 2013 film by Aussie master-mind Writer/Director Baz Luhrmann. Based on the 1925 novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald, this cinematic masterpiece is now the holder of 6 nominations and most likely a score of Oscar nominations this year. Starring 'Somebody-give-him-an-Oscar-already' talented and determined Leonardo DiCaprio, English-rose Carrie Mulligan, Scottish A+ drunkard Jason Clarke, Muscatian-born, Aussie-raised Isla Fisher, American mellow-man Tobey Macguire (whom I loved in 'Cider House Rules') and Aussie Joel Edgerton whom you may remember from 'The Thing' or 'King Arthur'. 

This film was 'mind-glowingly good'; it made for an exquisite night of fun, awe and wonder at the greatness that can be achieved with a solid team, real professionals and hard-work. If the soundtrack doesn't get you…the powerful love story certainly will. With a budget of $105 million USD, the film has grossed a cool $128 million USD back within just it's first week. Backed by Warner Bros. Pictures, Village Roadshow Pictures and scores of others, it's easy to see why everyone knew the prize presented to them. It was 142 minutes of unadulterated vivid brilliance! The cars, the wardrobe, the opulence and details down to the coffee pots and flowers were all very precise and thought-out. The audience's jaws' hung open by the peerless cinematography and poetic and tender dialogue. It was a luscious story about hopeless infatuation and longing, excruciating adversity and the sad delusion that comes along with it. It unfolded like a pleasant day-dream and switched to a wistful truth many can relate to.

Our wonderful actors, starring and parading all performed in synchronized symmetry. The direction is undeniably seamless, as it's close-shots, and ebbs melted into our viewer's palettes in the most charming way. This drama-romance is certainly now on 'Journey with Jair''s list of favourite films. It's inspiring, satisfying and magnificently made. Certainly a film to be admired and studied for years to come. Don't wipe away your tears…feel the magic… :))

Inception

"Why couldn't you dream us up on a god-damned beach!?"

Just one of the snazzy lines from this dream within a dream of our subconscious thoughts and ideas from the film 'Inception'. 

I still don't understand why Leonardo DiCaprio hasn't won an Oscar as yet; he's been nominated 3 times, and has been nominated and winner for several other prestigious awards, but still it's the Academies that give him a run for his money! This phenomenal American born, in none-other than Hollywood California; has had a full-time career in the film world, we may remember him first from 'What's Eating Gilbert Grape' and scores of other ground-breaking films like, 'Titanic', 'Blood Diamond', 'Catch Me if You Can', 'Aviator', 'The Departed', and 'Django Un-Chained' to name a few. This 2010's Action-Adventure-Mystery written and directed by English Christopher Nolan also had the pleasure of his savvy acting abilities.

This film was thought-provoking to the max as well as highly entertaining and moving. Think Bond meets Indiana Jones, meets Matrix, with snippets of Jurrassic Park flair. I feel that the story was developed and made sense but I feel that some of the film's characters were under-developed. It was easy to feel for Cobb's character played by Leonardo DiCaprio because enough back-story, explanation and flashbacks were present, however other characters like Arthur and Ariadne played by the cute Joseph Gordon-Levitt (whom you may remember from 500 days of Summer) and (Juno's) Ellen Page respectively, were a bit dull even if when delivering comical lines because the audience didn't get a feel for the character's personality. Although some may know about the Greek mythological story  behind the original Ariadne; if Writer/Director Nolan took time to introduce each character at the beginning like 'Ocean's 11' or 'Amelie'; it would have translated better unto screen and make for a much more solid movie.

With groundbreaking special effects, camera angles, decorated sets, exquisite cinematography and dizzying and trance-like close shots, the film's $160 million USD was put to good use. Besides the tiresome 'what's-going-on' attitude of Canadian Ellen Page, I feel that other actors English Tom Hardy, Japanese Ken Watanabe, Irish Cilian Murphy, and French power-house and beauty Marion Cotillard all delivered something special on set. The soundtrack didn't weigh heavily for this film but Edith Piaf's 'Non, je ne Regrette Rien' set the mood nicely throughout.

Django unchained

I can see now why ‘Django Unchained’ was the talk of the town and why my male friends professed over and over again that they needed to re-watch this film. This was 2 and a half hour of pure entertainment! Certainly not what I expected, as it was a glamorous, violent and revengeful type movie stacked full of unpredictable humor, but enjoyable nonetheless.

Written and directed by Quentin Tarantino (whom you may remember from the series of successful ‘Kill Bill’ movies) and based on the original Django played by Italian Franco Nero nearly 50 years prior this film although adapted from this Western idea proved to be like no other film of its kind because it made a black person ‘Django’ played by Jamie Foxx the hero of the story – in the south – pre-civil war – which is unheard of! It’s difficult to say what genre of film this is because Tarantino carefully melds drama, with action, with comedy, with romance, with so many other things and does so effectively.

With an estimated $100 million USD budget, filmmaker Tarantino gave his audience a widely versed pop soundtrack, exquisite cinematography, laughter, adventure, empowerment and pure un-adulterated show business. He also managed to have a fantastic cast of talented actors to bring his vision to life including the immensely gifted Leonardo DiCaprio, versatile Samuel L. Jackson, hilarious Jonah Hill, beauty Kerry Washington and my favourite German Chistoph Waltz who played ‘Dr. King Shultz; the original Franco Nero as well as Quentin Tarantino also make guest appearances.

Nominated for 5 Oscars, another 20 nominations and 13 wins, it’s easy to say this is becoming the height of Tarantino’s career; and well-deserving. Despite high gore, violence, language and brief nudity, he possesses knowledge on film and pop-culture and knows how to execute what the masses want. It is not only a story of a free-slave post-civil war in America turned bounty hunter to rescue his wife, it is also a story showing how ruthless, jealous, silly humans can be, the pain that was caused and the pain we still continue to cause and how love even then was able to survive and be something worth fighting for! J

What's Eating Gilbert Grape

“You’re my knight in shimmering armor. Did you know that?”

“I think you mean shining.”

“No shimmering. You shimmer and you glow.”

It isn’t everyday that a movie truly touches your heart; and 1993’s ‘What’s Eating Gilbert Grape’ does exactly that. This American drama starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Johnny Depp, written by Peter Hedges and directed by Lasse Halstrom received 6 wins and 1 nomination that year. Wrapped up with subtle jokes and warm cinematography it was an intimate look between the relationship between a boy and his family, of him reaching his breaking point and wanting more out of life, and also about him discovering true love.

Set in a small town of Endora, it’s easy to live a simple life and keep out of trouble; I feel that this film was special because despite it lacking any fancy footwork, the story stood solid on it’s own and the actors brought it home by truly connecting with their characters. Johnny Depp who played Gilbert Grape showed immense gentleness and Leonardo DiCaprio who played Arnie with a mental condition gave marvelous execution. I also enjoyed watching Juliette Lewis who played the free-spirit and love interest Becky and Darlene Cates who played the loving but helpless obese mother Bonnie.

In addition to the lovely soundtrack, this film easily had its audience hanging on to see what happened next; and for me brought tremendous joy and sadness. It isn’t everyday you see a story of people ‘really’ doing things that matter and have their priorities in order. It isn’t everyday that you find romantic moments that are true, stops time and make you feel something magical inside either! J

Life can be awkward and unfair but we must learn to adapt and do the best with what we have. Change comes but you must prepare yourself for it; you’re never given more than you can handle, so breathe and let things be. Keep doing the right thing; you’ll be blessed for it! J

“Tell me what you want as fast as it comes to you!”

“But what do YOU want?”

“I wanna’ be a good person.”