Marcelle

Tropic Thunder - film review

This new Ben Stiller comedy leaves no Hollywood spoof unturned, poking fun of the narcissistic nature of movie stars, greedy studio executives, poorly made action films, outdated acting methods, and dimwitted audiences. The film revolves around the production of a Vietnam war epic, which spins out of control when spoiled action star Tugg Speedman (Ben Stiller) and method-acting guru Kirk Lazarus (Robert Downey Jr.) get into a drama standoff in the middle of a multi-million dollar scene. 

To put an end to these stars’ erratic ways, the film's director (Steve Coogan) is urged by the author of the book and Vietnam Vet (Nick Nolte) to engage in some guerrilla filmmaking methods by transporting actors away from their pampered set and dropping them off into the heart of jungle. The proud stars go along with the plan and put on their best ego driven act without realizing that they have been left alone at an area controlled by a heroin drug cartel. Chaos erupts as soon as the truth is revealed.

This film is hilarious and sports some superb acting.  Downey and Stiller never go out of character and egg each other on until the end of the film, making the audience roar with laughter. Perhaps with the exception of the mindless antics of Jack Black, all stars put on a stellar performance.

Most surprising and amusing is Tom Cruise in his role of a studio exec, who likes to get down to the latest rap in the privacy of his office.  Seeing Tom Cruse bust the move is well worth the price of admission for Tropic Thunder.

Vicky Christina Barcelona

Vicky Cristina Barcelona is a new Woody Allen tale of one summer spent by two young American tourists (Rebecca Hall and Scarlett Johansson) in Spain. Vicky is conservative and reserved, certain of a happy future with her successful fiancé. Christina, on the other hand, is insatiable and impulsive in her search for the right relationship and is willing to experiment with almost anything in order to find what she is looking for. 

In the setting of free spirited Spain, both Vicky and Christina give in to their sex drive and begin to question conventional ideas of monogamy, fidelity and heterosexuality. Each woman is put to the test of her own when a romantic and moral free artist Juan Antonio (Javier Bardem) enters her life, followed by his psychotic ex-wife (Penélope Cruz).

In this film, Woody Allen lovingly captures the light romantic scenery of Spain and mingles it with female sensuality in a way that transposes our well established sense of personal freedom against the all American moral values. The director presents each character with careful fondness, slowly revealing each woman’s crisis against temptation to accept a liberated way of love. I most enjoyed Cristina’s struggle to accepting a new bohemian lifestyle as she rationalized herself into being a European above all conventions and then felt proud of herself for succeeding in setting her morals aside. Vicky’s character is more complex in her struggle to give up the life she always wanted. 

Despite their willingness to try, both women soon discover that their individual ideas of love, values and beliefs are not easily set aside. This excellent study of relationships and human nature concludes on a somewhat distressing note, boldly calling into question the possibility of lasting romantic happiness.

Paris

Beware of the siren

One should beware of a woman who writes poems
And silence that speaks louder than her voice
A mind that's prone to change with words of poets
A heart that's pure, but keen for making choice

Beware my friend, but don't mistake her notions
As shifting as she seems, she's loyal in her ways
She's made of care, love, tenderness, devotion
And peace awaits one strong to solve her maze

Affection labors anger when forsaken
And thoughtless words as penalty for tears
The poems that rage with smugness when mistaken
Thy soul may ache, but knowing heart forgives

And she believes that everything's connected
There are no accidents; there is only choice and faith
There is not secret prize at doors of those awakened
There are no ancient scrolls, just wastages of haste

There is only echo of one's covert soul
There is only stillness of one's aching heart
There is nothing less and nothing more
There is only muse from love that fell apart

The intimate embrace can be deceitful
What mind and heart desire body takes
The journey's long and arduous, but equal
From sting and fury stronger will awakes

Don't fear what you don't know
Don't judge the past or present
Thy trust was not misplaced
But wrought with doubt and blame

It's hard to love someone
And be forever pleasant
Her heart lives just for love
Yours lives because of pain

Although you'll never change
From past that had you shaken
You'll find a new beehive
With younger honey bees

You are not the "Outlaw"
Of that I'm not mistaken
But you can make love stay
By setting your doubts free

To whom, who can understand it

Nurtured in solitude of winter rains

With breath of summer, flowers bloom estranged

And butterfly has fluttered from thy plain

Away from wanton safety of the ranch

I hear in whispers of one mind’s defeat

I watch in silence as the heart betrays

I feel feet moving to the secret beat

I see one scouting crowds for younger prey

I speak of things forgotten by the brain

And memories of lips that lie with ease

Of mocking words that sting thy soul with pain

Of eyes that smiled in the summer breeze

Of open rooftops, midnight swims and laughs

Of hair lockets safely tucked away

Of love that is too strong to ever pass

Of pride too heavy for the mind to slay

Thy mind will lie and waiver and forget

Thy memory will play a trick on thee

Thy heart will beat forever stronger yet

Once time allows thy will to set it free

Hawaii