While Watching "The Class"...

I thought it would be a good idea to review the film in the selfportrait style Mr. Marin (François Bégaudeau) requests of his students. Only this would't be self because I'm not involved, or am I? The film's no-plot really gets your mind working on how much involvement you have in things you think you have no influence in...but this is getting complicated.
So without further ado:
I liked,
- Bégaudeau's committed performance. I could've sworn he was a professional actor and was very surprised to find this was his debut film! (Same goes for the whole ensemble).
- The plot-less approach. It was about nothing, but said so much.
- How it stayed so true to its title ("Entre les murs").
- How it didn't bother with silly backstories but still said so much about each character.
- The un-pretentiousness of its ideas.
- It never tries to be "inspirational".
-Its celebratory feeling; everything and everyone feels so damn alive!
- The fact that it feels so director-less, but actually leaves you craving for more of Laurent Cantet's work.
- The kids' names.
- Its ability to be so multicultural without stressing this out and squeezing the Benetton factor to the ultimate level.
- The feeling of utter frustration it leaves you with.
I didn't like,
- The feeling of utter frustration it leaves you with.

To Kristin, on her 49th Birthday...

I could've sworn she was older than that. Not because of her looks (that's the lovely Ms. Thomas a few days ago at the Cannes Film Festival) but because of the timeless quality she always brings to the screen.
She wasn't always in my grace, but now I can't get enough of her. May the movie gods bless her, and us, with more wonderful roles. She's the definition of a classic.

Because he Cannes, Cannes, Cannes...

Lars von Trier defied expectations, and sparked even more controversy, when his "Antichrist" leading lady, the very lovely, Balenciaga muse, Charlotte Gainsbourg was awarded the Best Actress trophy at the Cannes Film Festival.
Crazy and weird as he might be, very few living directors push actresses to the lengths he takes them to. The stories about how he tortured Bjork in "Dancer in the Dark" are legendary, but she got Best Actress at Cannes too (and was robbed of an Oscar nomination), Nicole Kidman was never better than in "Dogville", and the seriously underrated Bryce Dallas Howard was phenomenal in "Manderlay".
Other winners at the festival included Michael Haneke's "The White Ribbon" which was awarded the Palme d'Or and Christoph Waltz as Best Actor for Quentin Tarantino's "Inglorious Basterds".
Rest of winners at the festival's website.

Flow It, Show It.

"Lady animals figure very largely as predators."

Getting on the "Glee" Bandwagon.

Given that we don't get FOX down here and even if we did I'm not a fan of "American Idol", I obviously missed the very discussed premiere of "Glee" a few nights ago.
With that said, I got to see it and count me in as one of those excited with the promise it showed.
As far as pop culture goes, this is the best thing I've seen this year (if it was a movie it'd get a four star review!).
The cast is spectacular, I loved Jayma Mays germ-phobic teacher, Jane Lynch's viciously charming cheerleading trainer, Lea Michele's snotty, overachieving diva and Amber Riley's delicious girl with an attitude ("I'm Beyoncé!").
The show is filled with archetypes, not clichés, and feels refreshigly original even if deep inside you know you've seen this before a million times.
What makes "Glee" different is something we never see much of anymore: its spirit. I had never felt so excited watching a TV pilot before in my life and once it was over I just wanted more and more (not to mention I wanted to burst out into song and dance...I also listened to my "Back To Black" album completely).
The best compliment I can think of to give this show is that it's so damn good I'm already fearing its cancellation...

Bela, Boris. Boris, Bela.