Movie Review: Lady Bird

THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SOME SPOILERS.

When I think of Singapore, I think of the good and bad memories I had growing up in the little red dot. Being raised in Singapore since young, I identified myself very well with the culture and very much appreciate the things that most of us would have taken for granted until we left home and explore the whole universe, comparing the places we visit to the ones we are very much fond of.

That was what I could see and imagined when I watched Lady Bird which starred recent Golden Globes winner, Saoirse Ronan as Christine ‘Lady Bird’ McPherson, a high school senior coming to terms as she navigates her senior year with various experiences that occurred throughout the film and most importantly, her relationship with her mother.

From the beginning, I knew I was going to sit back and enjoy the film for its story happened to come straight to the point and made me felt I could relate so much with the character Lady Bird. She is somewhat funny and yet tried to make a point that she wants to experienced cultures especially going over to the East Coast, believing that she never really is fond of Sacramento where she comes from. I should I have noticed that at the beginning of the film, it showed a quote that somehow if I remembered correctly, it has got to do with Sacramento. Linking the ending and the quote raised the bar for the story because sooner or later, you understood what has happened and how everything hits you back like it reminded you of something; home.

Lady Bird talks about not only the coming-of-age for the leading character and her peers, but also the identity and how important it is to treasure whatever you have especially when someone is gone, and you soon start to accept and showed how much you cared for him or her. When I talked about this, I am referring to the relationship between Lady Bird and her mother. Both have their similarities when it comes to trying to make a point or even just a conversation; there is bound to be a time when you feel that you either agreeing or disagreeing with someone, or just cannot understand each other. Personally, anyone can relate either the two characters for one just does not want to show how much she cared or loved her daughter, and another feeling that she is already the “best version” of herself and yet not appreciated despite the apology.

There were times where you laugh at some moments that occurred in Lady Bird. Sometimes, you feel a pinch of sadness and wondered how a film like this could very well, made you think of yourself; a reflection of yourself when you were 18 or from the past. Therefore, I enjoyed Lady Bird for its story made me thought of things I did in the past and looking at Lady Bird was an image of myself. Its ability to tell such profound and simple coming-of-age story made me not regretted taking my time off from school work to watch the film, plus can you believe that this reflective, such personal story that got me to try controlling my laughter and joyful tears in school has a duration of 93 minutes?

As such, it is with pleasure that I recommend anyone regardless of where you are from, or how old you are, to give Lady Bird, a thoughtful consideration of watching.

Ratings: 8/10

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Movie Review: The Shape of Water

THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SOME SPOILERS.

Unrealistic yet captured with dedicated cinematography and its boosted soundtrack, The Shape of Water is a film which provides certain amount of decency that could have at least been maintained and achieved. However, director Guillermo Del Toro seems to lack the ability of recognising the picture itself does not require as much booster as he thought it would need.

The Shape of Water follows a story of a woman, Eliza who has a few friends and works for a somewhat government kind of laboratory place as a cleaner. Because of something that happened in her early days of her childhood, Eliza was a muted woman who learned how to use sign language and her friend is there at work to be her interpreter. One fine day, while Eliza and her friend were at a special unit, they were introduced to a recent asset found in South America, resulting in their encounter that would change Eliza forever. Living alone and does masturbate in the bath, the story would follow her exchanging conversations with the creature and how the love story unfolds as consequences come about became ahead of time and very unfortunate indeed.

I followed the beginning of The Shape of Water in which I found myself slowly stepping into the Cold War era, and here we have - some good old American values, the American Dream were common. The blues coming from the sea, the mesmerising score that was played, and the way we were introduced to the story, it sets the mood and tone that could easily made me consider that The Shape of Water was going to be my favourite on my recent watchlist, but it did not and here I am going to speak up about how I felt watching the middle and the ending.

I found myself cringing at the fact that Eliza and the creature have sexual intercourse, and how the story goes about in the middle. It looked to me like this has got be some kind of joke in which I have no offends but to question Del Toro’s; why are you making up the stuff that seems unnecessary in the story plot? This further extended to the part where I felt that Sally Hawkins’ performances as Eliza seemed to fall flat here and obviously, this does not play good. This could be seen from the scene in which Eliza found herself singing and suddenly we are introduced a completely different theme that does sounded like a joke. Broadway-like segment seems very redundant to even consider adding into the final cut for Hawkins’ Eliza was already good enough without having the Broadway-ish to prove how much she loved the creature and he would never understand. A great suggestion for this particular scene would have to focus on Hawkins’ trying to voice her singing and all is done naturally; no need for La La Land’s out of the dream box moment. Otherwise, I would have related more to The Shape of Water than I had now while I write this review.

In conclusion, The Shape of Water could have been better. It may have touching characters and somewhat a story to tell, to make changes. However, some things could have been avoided at all cost because the acting assemble were good enough to capture your attention especially when Eliza started to sing (remove the Broadway-ish adventure filter) how she felt for the creature; the singing voice that tugged your heartstrings. While I continued to feel displeased about The Shape of Water, the original music score by Alexandre Desplat, the cinematography and the directing were done beautifully well, made me feel like there is so much to tell from the story and this is disappointing because the chemistry, couple development between Eliza and the creature only lasted a few minutes. I felt the whole bonding thing was very rushed to begin with, not to mentioned this is unlikely, especially to swim in the water in the bathroom without giving thoughts about the neighbours or the theatre goers, or to even let Eliza made love with the creature like it was an object for her sexual fantasies.

Regardless of that, The Shape of Water is still a breathable story out of the water in which it still instilled positivity and some love that made you follow the whole film despite its cringing moments to come to think of them and some horror elements.


Ratings: 5.5/10

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Movie Review: Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SOME SPOILERS.

I like to believe that every film, especially one that involves an unsolved case, has at least find some closure towards the ending. A bittersweet thing to hear and awed by audience, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri is one of those films in which you like to hope there is something to let go or hopefully some justice to be served.

A film that took off with the beginning that has my mind thinking of John Wayne or any old country folks’ town feel, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri reminded me of how our world is shaped in especially in the United States of America where some things that took place are still happening today and still a conversation opener or topic in people’s mouth. We were introduced to a woman of the story, Mildred Hayes, and her persistent hope of having her daughter’s case to have justice and peace since we told that she was raped while murdered outside the abandoned road that holds the focal point; the three billboards that seemingly feels long forgotten and completely out of our industrial world.

Academy Award and recent Golden Globes winner, Frances McDormand portrayed as Mildred and over the course of the film, I totally felt for her character. Not only McDormand’s character, but also the rest of the cast which I would like to take this paragraph to talk about how uniquely the characters were and how much I could identify myself with some of them. In my opinion, the uniquely written character development for all was the crucial point of Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. Their embracing flaws and the way they hold themselves, made this film possible to understand even without knowing every detail front and back of how wrong the community was in the film. Seeing Mildred was a glimpse of reflection, asking yourself whether how would you even cope such unhappiness after whatever happened and people letting you down gently or just with intention, especially how she just looked at the deer while standing next to the billboard, talking about Angela like she was just there. Just a deer and her expression made me admired her stubborn bravery for what she went through and trouble she did for the three billboards – and this showcases McDormand’s fine portrayal of a broken woman with the world on her shoulder.

Sam Rockwell’s portrayal of a misunderstood police officer, Dixon, has drawn some sympathy out of my heart as well. From the beginning, I had this impression that Dixon was just a guy looking for some fight or trouble in which Willoughby (played by Woody Harrelson), his chief officer often acts as a father figure to stop him from laying his hands on the people despite their wrongs. The impression I had of him seemingly lay a foundation of what I believed him to be – thinking that he was the police officer that you tend to see on news channel sometimes, especially where one involved racial conflict or other interests that have been on the news before. However, as the story almost reached its conclusion, I found myself seemingly sorry for how I misjudged a character, just as how I tend to misjudge a person in life. As what Willoughby mentioned in his final letter to Dixon, he had the potential to be a better cop; to be what he could be – a detective, but somehow, he was just lost and all he needs is to embraced love and let go of hate.

All in all, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri is one of those films in which you genuinely find yourself associated and feel for the characters in and out. It is one of those stories that feels so genuinely from the bottom of your heart that you hope that things would become better as time passes. Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri represents and embodies every human being in the community, the society and the world; that things could work out better in time regardless of whatever happened, whether have you been hurt before, love before or anything. If you are need of finding a film to watched or rushing to try watching at least one film off this current awards season, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri is there for you to be included into your watchlist and definite watch for this season.


Ratings: 8/10

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"Haunting"

Hello readers,
I have finally uploaded an original song of mine titled, Haunting on SoundCloud. It is one of my favourites out of many songs I have on my possession and since this has been teased on my social media accounts frequently in 2017, I thought, as a reader, you deserved to have a listen to my original song; my personal record that can justify my feelings and actions I committed last year, and most importantly, my absence from Devil In The Skull.

Do give a listen and let me know what you think of Haunting! Also, let me know what kind of songs do you usually listen to in the morning and what are you expecting from me, so that I can understand you; each and every one who hold different opinions and thoughts, and I want to hear them. I have also uploaded Haunting as a video on YouTube which I will include here on this post.

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